Aug 25 2008
look at PNC Park
Jim Edmonds just led off the top of the second with a lead off triple… let’s see if we can bring him in!
Anyway, I thought that since this is the last series against the Pirates this year, it would be neat to post some pictures from a trip I took to PNC Park last summer. Everyone says PNC is the best park in all of baseball, but I didn’t really know what to think. Personally, I put Wrigley at the top and follow it up with Turner Field. But PNC was pretty nice, and here’s why:
BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE
Technically, I guess this wouldn’t be the case all the time, but it was August and the Pirates were well on their way to yet another losing season. I believe they were playing the St. Louis Cardinals too, so it wasn’t like it was that meaningful of a game. Anyway, the cool thing about PNC Park is that since there is such low fan support nowadays, you can essentially sit anywhere you’d like. I moved around all game long and got to see the park from all different angles. Tickets were also relatively cheap: I paid $9.00 and ultimately got to sit wherever I wanted.
GREAT FOOD/SITES
Ok, I don’t really have any pictures of food, but believe me, it is real good. You can get whatever you want: they got it at PNC. It can be a bit pricey though. The sites are great as the park offers an awesome view of the downtown area and the Allegheny River. There are restaurant areas out beyond the bleacher area and you can hang out and take in the scenery.
PRIDE
While the fans definitely don’t seem to help with bolstering “Pirate Pride,” the stadium itself honors the Pirate greats. They use the video scoreboard to show all the highlights in franchise history prior to game start. Also, there are statues of past great players around the park. Above, is Willie Stargell.
Overall, I think the park has a lot of cool features, but I think a lot is lacking because of the low turn-out, excitement, etc. I think that park has the potential to be a really fun place if the organization can put together a better product. Until then, PNC is a pretty decent park that I would recommend you go check out sometime. I personally hate this ballpark because it’s impossible to hit a home run and so often the Cubs have hit balls 350 feet only to be outs in PNC. Obviously, this is a personal vendetta… it’s the same reason I hate places like Chase Field and Dolphin Stadium. Oh yes, I would also suggest making it out there for a day game. I don’t know why exactly, but I felt that the park just wasn’t doing it for me in the night. It’s kind of like you should go to Wrigley Field for a day game to get the real experience. There are some parks that work better at night: I would say a Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati is one example… you get the idea.
Anyway, Cubs lead, 5-0, after a three-run home run by Aramis Ramirez. Haha, just as I mention that it’s impossible to hit a home run in the ballpark, right? Jim Edmonds follows up with a double: he is a home run and single shy of the cycle.
Go Cubs!
