Although the Pirates have struggled on the field for many years, one thing that fans of the Pirates can never complain about is PNC Park as it is one of the most beautiful ballparks in baseball. As the landscape in baseball changed in the 1990s many small market teams began seeking new ballparks to create additional revenue. This included the Pirates as they demanded that a ballpark be built or they would move to another city. The Pirates began drawing plans for a new ballpark that would be similar to their previous home before Three Rivers Stadium, Forbes Field. Bonds were approved for $216 million to build a ballpark for the Pirates in 1997 and construction began in April 1999. The ballpark was named PNC Park after PNC Bank bought the naming rights.

The Pirates christened PNC Park on April 9, 2001 when they played the Cincinnati Reds. From the outside PNC Park looks like a classic ballpark from bygone years. Fans walk to PNC Park from various parking facilities around the ballpark, walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge from downtown Pittsburgh or even drive their boat to the ballpark. Once outside the main entrance of the ballpark, fans see a brick front, steel structure, terra cotta tiled pilasters, dramatic masonry arches along the home plate entryway, and a flat green steel roof. Statues of Honus Wagner and Roberto Clemente are also outside the ballpark. Once inside fans must take stairs, ramps or the escalator to reach the main concourse and upper levels. However after the upward trip, fans are greeted with perhaps the best view of any in MLB, a view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline.

With a capacity of 38,496, PNC Park is baseball’s second smallest ballpark. The ballpark has only two decks of seats that extend from the right field foul pole to homeplate and around to the left field foul pole. Club seats, located on the lower section of the upper deck; and the press box, located at the top of the upper deck, allow for the upper level seats to be much closer to the field. Luxury suites are wedged between the lower and upper decks. Fans can walk around the entire main concourse of the stadium without losing sight of the field. In the outfield, fans can sit in the section of bleachers in left field, or sit in right field and try to catch a homerun ball if it is not hit into the river.