PNC Park is the best of the best. Hands down, it's the best stadium in the nation. Granted, I haven't been to all of them (yet), but I can't imagine a park being better than PNC.\n\nA little history: I grew up near Pittsburgh. My dad and grandpa took me to a bazillion Pirates games in Three Rivers Stadium. When Three Rivers was bombed to make way for PNC, I refreshed my browser like mad to see all of the news stories and photos (This was before livecast, kiddos). Out of respect for my only baseball home until that point, I swore that I wouldn't set foot in that damn PNC Park that was to be erected. It helped that I moved to St. Louis the following year.\n\nWell, it took about five years after PNC Park opened, but I finally made it. Once I stepped through the gates, most of my nostalgia for Three Rivers melted away (I still keep a trunk of it buried in my heart, though). I stared open-mouthed at the soaring seat levels and the gorgeous views of the rivers and skyline. I was amazed at the care with which the Pirates merch stores chose their stock. I was humbled by the section devoted to the Pirates' role in the Negro Leagues. I fluttered when I saw so many Pittsburgh-area restaurants and cuisine. And I felt such pride outside the stadium while touching each of the statues of the Pittsburgh greats. I was sold.\n\nThat's not even counting how I felt once I sat down for a game. Honestly, PNC doesn't have a bad seat in the house, and you can't beat the view of the city. In this park, I don't need to sit in the expensive seats to feel like part of the action - I happily take in games from the upper decks and still feel connected to what's happening on the field (though it's pretty easy to sneak into the lower sections after a couple of innings). The in-game shenanigans on the big screen are more clever than in other parks, and the pierogi race is always a hoot. And I love how much space the park devotes to scoreboards for other baseball games happening that day - so easy to keep tabs on what's happening back in St. Louis and also monitor my fantasy baseball teams like a giant dork. \n\nDespite the Pirates being a mediocre team (Glory will happen again! I swear!), this is a gorgeous stadium in a city full of Pittsburgh pride. I LOVE bringing friends and family here. I've now been to PNC about a dozen times, and I've never been let down once.
places reviews