SportsTravel

The enhancements to the outfield areas include new gathering spaces with open sight lines to the field, concession and hospitality concepts, improvements to group gathering areas, kids play areas and opportunities for fans to interact with the team’s history. Janet Marie Smith, who served as a lead designer in the creation of Camden Yards and has spearheaded fan experience projects at Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium, was brought in to consult on the improvements.

“As we work hard to build our team on the field, we are also focused on the continued evolution of the experience at PNC Park,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “We need to ensure that PNC Park is a welcoming and fun place for every fan, build off what is best about PNC Park and improve the gameday experience to meet the changing needs of our fans.”

Some of the new elements include replacing the former gameday security building for a new gathering space above the center field bullpens; a kids play area in right field is expanded to flow along the Riverwalk into the center field area; a new social gathering space above the center field fenceline with drink rails, tables and high-top seating; new food concepts and specialty offerings; a widened and leveled area that extends from the bullpens to the left field rotunda; and several new curated displays throughout the ballpark that will commemorate the team’s history and baseball in Pittsburgh.

“There is a keen awareness that fan habits have changed, and the way ballparks are experienced has changed,” Smith said. “Every improvement was designed to bring the fans closer to the game by removing walls, barriers, and even some seats to be sure that fans are enjoying the new spaces while being intimately connected to the field. It was important to add something for every fan, including cool displays for baseball historians, play areas for kids, craft beer and new food concepts for friends to enjoy together.”