My Top 10 Favorite Things to Do on Pirates Game Day

Check out the top 10 things to do during a Buccos Game Day!

It's baseball season in Pittsburgh! I can't wait to get back inside PNC Park, my unofficial home from spring-early fall. You don't have to know all the rules or even the players to enjoy the game. Just sit in the ballpark and enjoy that spectacular view. Fans around the world agree that there's no place better to catch America's pastime, and PNC was recently voted the #1 ballpark in the country by USA Today.

With that, here's my favorite things to do on game day in and around the ballpark. Let's Go Bucs!

1) Take the Gateway Clipper to the Game

While parking is no big deal on the North Shore, I love the experience of parking in the South Side and taking the Gateway Clipper shuttle and our three rivers over instead. The reveal as you round the Point and the stadiums come into view is magical no matter how many times I do it!

For planning purposes, shuttles start 1.5 hours before gametime and run until 30 minutes after the game ends.

2) Have Some Ballpark Food

Check out What to Eat at PNC Park for a rundown of all the delicious options inside the park. From local restaurant-inspired favorites and pierogi to standard fare like burgers hot dogs and ice cream, you're sure to find something you love. We even break it down for you section by section.

3) Enjoy a Walk Around the Park

For the second straight year, PNC Park improvements have centered around making the walk around the stadium as beautiful as the views from your seats. In 2022, a new-look outfield Riverwalk added an outfield open bar, concessions inspired by Pittsburgh food and Pirates-themed playgrounds. In 2023, the improved Concourse was given a modern look to the match the Riverwalk along with tech upgrades to get your food and drinks more conveniently than ever.

4) Find Local Brews

Mike's Beer Bar is always hopping on game days and you can hang out until game-time since the gate is right next door. They serve up 80 taps of local craft beers as well as gigantic coolers stocking 300+ local beers in cans and bottles.

There are also lots of bars and restaurants near the park to duck into as well. Try out McFadden's, Southern Tier, Voodoo's Pittsburgh Pub and Shorty's Pins x Pints all within a 5-minute walk of the stadium for great vibes and tons of fun pre- and post-game.

Suzie and Parrot

5) Celebrate History Outside the Park

PNC Park made the walk around the park even better in 2022, adding a lower walkway by the Clemente Bridge to showcase their history. Retired numbers will and player bios are placed around the path for all fans to enjoy.

6) Sing Along With the Crowd

The beloved baseball tune Take Me Out to the Ballgame is a hallmark of the baseball experience. People really get into it, standing up, swaying back and forth and with arms around each other as they sing. Don’t be one of those people who uses the bathroom during the song. It doesn't matter if you can't hold a tune; just sing loudly, follow the Eat'N Park Smiley Cookie and have fun!

7) Witness The Great Pittsburgh Pierogi Race

It happens in the bottom of the 5th inning, so take your snack and bathroom breaks accordingly. Root for your favorite anthropomorphic stuffed dough character as they run around the field toward the finish line. Who will win? It may be purse-wielding Jalapeno Hanna or the intelligent Oliver Onion calculating his path to victory, but Cheese Chester is not one to melt under pressure.

So cheer them on, and enjoy this uniquely Pittsburgh tradition!

8) Snag Great Promotional Items

Few MLB teams do promotions as well as the Pirates. The Zambelli fireworks are a yinzer favorite, and six games this season will have them. Pup nights with your furry friends on Tuesdays, Dollar dogs on select Wednesdays and Free Shirt Fridays make these games popular with fans, and four bobblehead nights feature a Star Wars variant Mitch Keller, Dave Parker, Andrew McCutchen and a Yinzer-themed bobblehead this season to round out your collection.

You can check out their complete promotional schedule here!

9) Take a Look at the Statues

For our baseball history buffs, PNC Park is surrounded by four statues of former players who are both Pirates and baseball legends. The Honus Wagner statue stands before the home plate entrance, which used to stand in front of Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium. Roberto Clemente’s statue rests in front of the center field gate, steps from the bridge named after him. Willie Stargell’s statue is located outside the left-field gate. Bill Mazeroski’s statue on the right field entrance shows him approaching home plate after his World Series winning walk-off homer in 1960.

See everything on a North Shore Walking Tour.

10) Take Pics of the Views

PNC Park has made national sports news as one of, if not, the best ballpark in the U.S. That acknowledgement has come from Travel and Leisure, ESPN and many others. Take in the panoramic view of the river and bridges from best ballpark in America and show off that fantastic outfield view to your friends online! Maybe consider #LovePGH as a caption to end up on our website…

Play Ball, and Let's Go Bucs!

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Jared B.

Author

Jared B.

Enthusiastic Pittsburgher

Always in search of the next great craft beer and arcade. Can be found in the Supporters Section of Pittsburgh Riverhounds games and at whatever festival is happening in the city.

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