PNC Park

The Pirates' riverfront ballpark on the North Shore

PNC Park is the open-air home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, built on the North Shore of the Allegheny River across from downtown Pittsburgh. It opened in 2001 and seats 38,747, a modest capacity that keeps most seats close to the field. Most seats look past the outfield to the river, the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the downtown skyline.

It was the first ballpark in the United States since Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953 to be built with only two main seating decks. Fewer decks means the upper level sits lower and closer to the field than at most modern parks.

• Pirates baseball: the regular season runs from late March or early April through September, with weekend and summer dates drawing the biggest crowds.
• Other events: the park has hosted concerts on a floor laid over the field, plus the 2006 All-Star Game.

PNC Park seating chart: how the levels are numbered

The two decks run from the right-field foul pole around home plate to the left-field foul pole, with suites tucked between them. Independent seating guides describe the numbering this way:

• Field level (low numbers): the front infield sections closest to the field carry low numbers, listed as 1 through 32, and include the Lexus Club area behind home plate.
• Lower level (100s): the rest of the lower deck and the outfield seats, listed as 101 through 147.
• Suite level: private suites between the decks.
• 200 level: sections listed as 201 through 238, covering club seating, all-you-can-eat seats and the upper outfield bleachers.
• Grandstand level (300s): the upper deck, listed as 301 through 339, including the Pirate Deck.

The Pirates' dugout is on the third-base side, and the visitors use the first-base dugout. The bullpens sit in left-center field. Seats throughout the park are angled toward home plate, so you spend less of the game turned sideways. Section ranges come from independent seating guides, not the team's own map, so confirm the exact section at checkout.

Best seats at PNC Park, and seats to think twice about

• Best overall view: the low-numbered field sections and the 100s between the dugouts. You see pitch movement, the infield and the skyline in one frame.
• For Pirates fans: third-base side seats near the home dugout give the best look at players coming and going.
• Best value: the Grandstand (300s) behind home plate and along the infield. Because the park has only two decks, these seats sit lower than upper decks elsewhere, and they show the full skyline over the outfield.
• Outfield and bleachers: lively and usually less expensive, and the 21-foot right-field wall makes right field a good spot for watching caroms. You trade a view of the strike zone for the atmosphere.

Seats to think twice about: the far corners of the upper deck near the foul poles, which face center field and require a turn toward the plate; and low outfield rows behind the bullpens, where the bullpen activity and the wall can cut into the view of the infield. On hot summer afternoons, check which seats are covered by the upper deck if sun is a concern; the overhang shades the back rows of the lower level first.

Views from the lower deck, the Grandstand and the outfield

The lower deck puts you at eye level with the game, close enough to hear the infield chatter in the field sections. The Grandstand view is the one on postcards: the field below, then the river, the yellow Clemente Bridge and the skyline. The 360-degree concourse means you can walk the full loop and keep watching the game, which matters for fans who plan to graze rather than sit for nine innings. The Highmark Riverwalk along the outer edge of the park adds river views and a family fun zone.

Getting to PNC Park: the T, parking and walking from downtown

• Light rail: the T stops at North Side station, a short walk from the ballpark, which makes rail the easiest option from downtown and the South Hills.
• On foot: many fans park or eat downtown and walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge to the North Shore.
• Driving: the park sits near Interstate 279 (exit 1B), with I-376 and I-579 nearby. Garages and surface lots on the North Shore are shared with the neighboring football stadium, so they fill faster on days with overlapping events.
• Accessible parking: the team points guests to ALCO Parking and Champions Garage for accessible spaces.

Parking prices and lot assignments change by season and by event, so reserve ahead and check the team's current parking page before you go.

PNC Park bag policy and gate times (2026 season)

As of the 2026 season, the Pirates allow one bag per guest, provided it is soft-sided and 16 by 16 by 8 inches or smaller. That includes purses, fanny packs and backpacks that fit the size limit. Hard-sided cases are not allowed. Medical bags and diaper bags are permitted after a security search.

• Outside food: allowed, along with water bottles of 24 ounces or less. Alcohol, carbonated drinks, cans and glass are not. Some premium areas restrict outside food.
• Gate times: generally 90 minutes before first pitch; for 6:40 p.m. games Monday through Thursday, general gates open one hour before.
• Gates: the Home Plate Gate, the Right Field Gate, the Left Field Gates and a Left Field Lounge entrance.
• Tickets: digital, through the MLB Ballpark app.
• Tobacco: banned, including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Check the venue's current policy at the Pirates' PNC Park guide before you go. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee, including guaranteed entry.

PNC Park's history and landmarks

PNC Park opened on March 31, 2001. It was designed by HOK Sport (now Populous) with Pittsburgh's L.D. Astorino & Associates and built for about 216 million dollars. When it opened, the nearby Sixth Street Bridge was renamed for Roberto Clemente.

Clemente's number 21 is built into the park: the right-field wall stands 21 feet high. Statues outside honor Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski. The park hosted the 2006 All-Star Game, won 3–2 by the American League, and the National League Wild Card Game in 2013, 2014 and 2015, three of the loudest nights in the building's history.

Sources

• Wikipedia – PNC Park
• Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park Information Guide
• Ballparks of Baseball – PNC Park
• A View From My Seat – PNC Park sections
• RateYourSeats – PNC Park seating