PITTSBURGH — At 9 a.m. Wednesday one lucky Pittsburgh Pirates fan will be the first in line to purchase postseason tickets – something that hasn’t happened in more than 20 years.
The team started handing out wristbands earlier this week to those wanting the coveted tickets, should the team make a playoff run.
Fans with the wristbands could win the right to buy tickets for possible National League Wild Card and Divisional Series games at PNC Park.
Fans will then line up in numerical order from that point. For example, if the number drawn is wristband number 500, that fan will be first in line. The fan with wristband number 501 will be next, followed by the fan with number 502, and so on. The fan with wristband number 499 would be the last person in line.
Pirates officials will draw one of the wristband numbers Wednesday morning and that person will be the first in line.
A limited number of tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m and a limited number of tickets will also be available online and by phone.
Channel 11’s Jennifer Tomazic reported a steady stream of people received wristbands on Tuesday.
Several people who got wristbands talked about the excitement surrounding the team.
“Up until now it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but hopefully it will be a more regular occurrence,” one fan said.
"Even with our growing number of season ticket holders, and many of them taking advantage of their ability to purchase additional Postseason tickets, we worked to ensure that we had a limited number of Postseason tickets available to the general public," said Frank Coonelly, Pirates president. "Our goal is to now release those tickets in the fairest way possible to ensure all of our fans have an equal opportunity to secure their tickets for what is sure to be an electric atmosphere at PNC Park."