PITTSBURGH — First pitch is fast approaching in the 2022 MLB season and Pittsburgh Pirates fans will have plenty of new reasons to visit PNC Park this spring and summer.
“PNC Park is Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh is PNC Park,” said Pirates President Travis Williams at a media tour showcasing upgrades to the ballpark on Wednesday.
The changes are evident when you first enter through the outfield gates, from new flags and awnings to kids play areas and more.
PHOTOS: Here’s what’s new at PNC Park for 2022 season
PIRATES FANS: Major upgrades at PNC Park this season! We got to check them out this morning. There’s more room on the Riverwalk to socialize and eat/drink, new kids play areas, and 6 new food and drink vendors. I’ll show you all the changes at 4 and 6 tonight on @WPXI pic.twitter.com/RmrYKMrHsF
— Pete DeLuca WPXI (@PeteDeLucaTV) April 6, 2022
The Riverwalk is also much more open with new places for fans to congregate while still catching all the action on the field.
“People interact with baseball parks differently today than they used to, when we opened the park, and so there’s opportunity to stand, to engage, to get food, to socialize with family and friends,” explained Williams.
While fans are socializing on the concourse, they’ll have six new food and drink vendors to check out, plus new digital menu boards and kiosks to order from.
Three of these new locations are partnerships with Pittsburgh’s-own Coop de Ville, Fat Head’s Brewery, and Smallman Street Deli.
“Whether it was the foods or the design of the different spaces that we included, all of which we wanted to make sure celebrated all that’s great about Pittsburgh and inviting that into the ballpark and inviting our fans to come enjoy it here,” said Williams.
The fan experience was at the center of the design process of all these new elements.
Each addition hits on the themes of connecting to the game, showcasing the city of Pittsburgh and the history of Pirates baseball, and providing something for everyone.
“It’s a totally different kind of vibe and I think just a lot of fun and reflects the kind of elastic, fluid, social environment that ballparks have created in the last decade,” said Janet Marie Smith, a ballpark design advisor to the team.
Fans’ first chance to check out the changes to PNC Park will be during the Pirates’ home opener on Tuesday at 4:12 p.m. versus the Cubs.
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