USA Today named PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the best ballpark in its ranking of Major League Baseball stadiums. USA TODAY Network baseball reporters and editors announced the honor in a story, “Ranking MLB’s Stadiums 1 to 30: Baseball Travelers’ Favorite Ballparks.”
PNC Park, which opened in 2001, enters its 24th season with an April 5 home opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
“Throughout the life of the park, specially under the leading of Bob Nutting, we have worked hard to build everything that makes PNC Park special,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement. “From ongoing physical improvements, new food offerings and expanded historical displays, to how our hosts take care of each guest, PNC Park continues to help make Pittsburgh a desirable destination for millions of people each year.”
Throughout PNC Park’s history, everyone in the Pirates organization has consistently referred to it as “the best ballpark in America” — and they’re not shy about it.
That view is easy to understand.
Now entering its 24th season, PNC Park is as breathtaking and pristine as the day the 38,000-plus-seat facility opened in 2001 on the banks of the Allegheny River on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Plus, it’s more sophisticated and fan-friendly than ever.
About PNC Park
It is not just a provincial thought. Sure, the Pirates, their fans and the local media hold PNC Park in the highest regard, but it’s also gotten rave reviews from virtually anyone who’s ever visited, no matter where they call it.
Another accolade was added to the list when USA Today rated PNC Park first among 30 major league stadiums in a report released Saturday.
The article — which was titled “MLB’s Stadiums 1 to 30: Baseball Travelers’ Favorite Ballparks” — revealed that eight USA TODAY Network baseball reporters and editors rated each current stadium and used the total scores to “determine the ultimate MLB Stadium Ranking.
Oracle Park, home of San Francisco, was the second in PNC Park’s legacy. The remaining 10 are (in order): Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ramden Yards in Baltimore, Fenway Park in Stone, Fico Park in San Diego, Door Stadium in LA, Coors Field in Denver, T-Motley Park in Seattle, Tuxel Park in Seatt
Two unsuitable times ago, Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, “I am committed to a constant assessment and upgrade of the expertise at and around PNC Park, specially for families.”
Visit PNC Park
The hat led to significant improvements to the ballpark ahead of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Janet Marie Smith, one of the industry’s leading experts, consulted with Pirates to help make those improvements happen. He has worked on reformations at other benefits on the new USA TODAY list — as like Fenway Park, Camden Yards and Dodger Stadium.
Prior to the 2022 season, the Pirates did a lot of work in the outfield from foul pole to foul pole to bring better sightlines, more social gathering spaces and additional food and beverage options to the Riverwalk.
Last season, the most noticeable change at PNC Park was the massive new scoreboard in left field that featured state-of-the-art technology and twice as much display space as the previous version. There were also new video boards, rings and new audio system. Also, with the benefit of evolving technology, it has become faster and easier for fans to enter the ballpark, purchase items at the concession stand and navigate the concourse at PNC Park.
“Any ranking of ballparks, I don’t care what the source is, PNC Park is in the top five,” Smith said this time last year. “It’s a real testament to the city of Pittsburgh, the Sports and Exhibition Authority, Bob Nutting and the Pirates. They’ve maintained that the ballpark is huge even as it moves into its third decade. It’s rare for a ballpark to always be so highly regarded across the country.”
Now the No. 1 ranking from USA TODAY can be added to the list.