Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park Fan Guide

Sportsfanfocus.com has no affiliation with PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates, or MLB (info)

This is a guide to the Pittsburgh Pirates home ballpark PNC Park. Going to a baseball game can be fun, but it is also a unique experience that you will want to plan for accordingly. There are certain policies and procedures you will want to be aware of beforehand, as well as stadium gate and parking lot locations for easy entrance.

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seat will look like prior to purchase. Click here to view Pittsburgh Pirates tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

In this article we will discuss:

What to bring to a Pittsburgh Pirates Game
Pittsburgh Pirates Ticket Information
Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium Gate Information
Does PNC Park Accept Cash?
How Long are Pirates Games?

Table of Contents

What to Bring to a Pittsburgh Pirates Game?

If you are going to a Pittsburgh Pirates game, below is a list of things you might need to bring. You will want to make sure you are complying with any security protocols the stadium has:

Clear Stadium Bag – Many stadiums have strict bag policies and recommend a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com)

Parking Pass – Many stadiums recommend fans to pre-purchase parking passes if needed to help avoid the hassle and wait times associated with buying passes at the stadium. Click here to view the current prices of Pittsburgh Pirates parking passes and tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com)

Weather and Sun protection – PNC Park is an open-air stadium, which means you will want to be prepared to face the elements when you attend a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Things like sunscreen, hats, jackets, and rain ponchos may be needed depending on weather forecasts.

Bug Repellent – Because PNC Park is open air, bugs may be an issue during summer. Just make sure your bug repellent meets stadium safety guidelines for aerosol cans.

Camera – Some fans like to bring a camera into the game. Just make sure your camera meets the stadium requirements regarding cameras and video recorders.

Noise-Canceling Headphones – Stadiums can get very loud, and noise-canceling headphones may be needed for toddlers.

Cashless Payment – Many stadiums are slowly transitioning to cashless payments, so bringing a form of payment other than cash is never a bad idea.

Baseball Glove – Some fans like to bring a baseball glove to the stadium in hopes of catching a foul ball.

Can You Bring a Bag Into PNC Park?

As an emphasis on security has increased in recent years, most stadiums have adjusted their bag policies. Many stadiums recommend using a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Clear stadium bags help with security at the gate, and not only make the stadium safer, but also help security lines move faster. But each stadium has its own safety guidelines, and may include certain exceptions. To read more, I would advise you to visit the Pirates information guide.

Pittsburgh Pirates Ticket Information

Can You Buy Tickets at PNC Park?

Yes, you can buy Pirates tickets at the stadium, but only as long as supplies last. That said, for reasons we discuss below, many fans choose to buy their tickets online before they go to the game.

You can purchase tickets directly from the MLB Ballpark app or the team’s website. You can also use online ticket brokers like StubHub or Vivid Seats.

I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seats will look like prior to purchase. Click here to view Pittsburgh Pirates tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).

The Pirates Ticket Office at PNC Park is open Monday through Friday from 9am – 5pm. If there is a game during the week, the ticket office will still open at 9am but stay open until 15 minutes after the game ends. For weekend game days, the ticket office will open at 9am and close 15 minutes after the game ends. For more details, you can find contact information here.

You can buy tickets online through the team’s website, or by downloading the MLB Ballpark App to your mobile device. The MLB Ballpark app is MLB’s free, official app that makes it easy to access, manage, and use your tickets. This is where you can learn more about the Ballpark App.

To read more, visit our article about buying Pirates tickets at the stadium. If you are looking for more options to get tickets, check out our article for the best places to find Pirates tickets.

Issues with Buying Pirates Tickets at the Stadium

If you are choosing to buy Pirates tickets at PNC Park on the day of the game, there are a few risks and annoyances you will want to consider.

Sellout – This is the big one. As we mentioned above, some Pirates home games do sellout. Walking up and buying tickets at PNC Park might not always be an option.

Ticket Lines – Be prepared, waiting in line is a possibility if you choose to buy at the stadium. The overall wait can obviously fluctuate depending on the specific circumstance, and may be relatively short for some games. But a wait is possible.

Convenience – When you buy at the stadium, you will have to abruptly choose your seats while standing at the front of a line. Depending on the length of the line behind you, this may make you feel rushed when choosing where to sit. Buying online allows you to take as much time as needed to choose your seats and price.

PNC Park Gate Information

PNC Park gates open 90 minutes prior to game time for weekend and Friday games and 1 hour for all other games, although Home Plate Club Members can get in 2 hours before game time. PNC Park has several gate entrances conveniently located around the outside of the stadium.

Depending on where you park, and where your seats are located, one entrance might make more sense for you than the others. To read about the location of each, and what parking lots make the most sense for you, visit our Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park Gate and Parking Guide.

Fans can enter early to watch batting practice once stadium gates open. For more information, visit our article about watching batting practice at PNC Park .

How Long Do Pirates Games Last?

You can expect a Pittsburgh Pirates game to last slightly over three hours on average, but it is worth noting that some games can last closer to four hours depending on pace of play. In 2021, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes (source).

The length of games has become a point of emphasis for Major League Baseball as many fans site pace of play as one thing they’d like to see improve with the sport. In recent years, Major League Baseball has taken steps to help shorten the length of games, but the effectiveness of these measures is still under evaluation.

Major League Baseball games consist of nine total innings, with the exception of double header games which are only 7 total innings in length. If you are heading to PNC Park, planning for a 3-4 hour game is probably the safest bet. To read more, visit our article about the average length of MLB baseball games.

Buying Pittsburgh Pirates Gear at the Stadium

Pittsburgh Pirates has a team store located near PNC Park Left Field Gate entrance where you can shop for Pirates jerseys and other types of fan gear. You can, of course, also shop online prior to the game. To read more, visit our Pirates Jersey Guide.

Does PNC Park Accept Cash Inside the Stadium?

PNC Park is a cashless venue. Electronic payment with major credit or debit cards as well as Apple and Google Pay are accepted at all points of sale. For guests’ convenience, the park offers reverse ATMs where cash can be converted to a prepaid Mastercard free of charge. These prepaid cards can be used at PNC Park and anywhere else too.

The reverse ATM’s can be found in sections 119 and 319, so you have a couple options depending on where you are seated. It is always a good idea to check with the Pirates information guide ahead of time.

Pittsburgh Pirates Contact Info

This website (sportsfanfocus.com) has no affiliation with PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB, or any of the events hosted at this facility.

Any information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, meaning much of this information is subject to change, and although we do our best to keep these guides updated, we can’t guarantee accuracy at all times. For all official information, we urge you to contact the Pittsburgh Pirates staff. Contact information is below:

PNC Park – View Stadium Information
Pittsburgh Pirates – View Contact Information
PNC Park Parking Pass Information