a Pirates baseball game, one of the things to see when you plan a Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh

Plan a Toronto Blue Jays Travel Package to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is home to PNC Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates play. As one of the oldest franchises (established in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys) in Major League Baseball, it’s only fitting that the Pirates would have such an outstanding ballpark.

Nestled along the Allegheny River with stunning views of the Pittsburgh skyline and Roberto Clemente Bridge, the PNC Park is a gem among MLB ballparks. A modern, retro-classic stadium, its look was inspired by Forbes Field, the home ballpark of the Pirates from 1909 to 1970. Its design touches are reminiscent of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore and Oracle Park in San Francisco.

So, even though the Pirates have sucked as a major league ball team for what seems forever, seeing PNC Park in person is definitely something every Jays fan should do.

To help you get the most out of your visit to the ballpark and the city, we’ve put together this guide. It features everything you need to know for planning a Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh. Before you get started, here’s a little trivia about PNC Park:

  • PNC Park opened in 2001. The inaugural game was played against the Cincinnati Reds.
  • The right field outfield wall at the Pirates ballpark is 21 feet high. This is in honor of the Pirates legendary right fielder Roberto Clemente who wore #21.
  • The first no-hitter thrown at PNC Park was tossed by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey on September 28, 2012.
  • The first player to hit a home run out of Pirates field and into the Allegheny River was Daryle Ward of the Houston Astros, on July 6, 2002.

The first 3 things to do when planning your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh

1. Book your accommodations and flight

By booking your flight and hotel accommodations at the same time you will save money. To do this we suggest using Expedia. There are a few reasons why:

  • The Expedia booking platform is simple and easy to use.
  • By bundling your flight and hotel purchase on Expedia you can save an average of $600.
  • When you sign up and become an Expedia member (it’s free) you will earn rewards points on both flight and accommodation bookings. You can then use these points to reduce the cost of booking flights and hotels for your next Toronto Blue Jays travel package.
  • As an Expedia member you will save an additional 10% on select hotel accommodations.

To book your accommodation and flight at the same time go to the Expedia website. On the home page, click on “Packages” which is displayed in the main menu. (Don’t forget to sign in so you can earn your rewards points.)

A few Pittsburgh hotel suggestions for your visit

Here are a few hotel accommodations to consider for your visit to PNC Park that are close to the stadium.

Rooftop restaurant and bar. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh. 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor: A boutique hotel housed in a historic Beaux-Arts building. A blend of modern luxury and classic elegance. Enjoy a complimentary cocktail hour.

Complimentary hot breakfast. Hyatt Place Pittsburgh-North Shore. 4/5 on TripAdvisor: Conveniently located on the North Shore. Clean, comfortable hotel. Spacious rooms with separate living and sleeping areas.

Housed in a historic building. Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor: Timeless charm with modern amenities. Spacious rooms with luxurious bedding. Rooftop terrace with views of the city skyline.

Microwave and fridge in every room. Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown. 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor: Comfortable stay in hotel featuring unique architecture. Complimentary hot breakfast and evening reception with drinks and snacks.

Free breakfast and free parking. Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburgh-Downtown. 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor: Comfortable, convenient accommodations. A short walk to many of Pittsburgh’s most popular attractions including the Pirates ballpark.

2. Buy your tickets to the game

The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the best baseball stadiums in the MLB and one of the worst teams in the MLB.

The last time the Pirates were in the World Series was 1979. For most of those four decades since, they’ve been out of the playoff race pretty early into the season.

With one of the lowest payrolls in the MLB and an inability to develop players, the future doesn’t look bright for Pirates fans. This means as the season progresses there are usually a lot of empty seats at PNC Park.

So, if you want a good seat at the Pittsburgh Pirates ballpark plan your visit for later in the season.

Tickets can be purchased on the Pirates website or from a reseller like Stubhub or SeatGeek.

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Seating suggestions for your Jays vs. Pirates game at PNC Park

Here are some seating options to consider when organizing your visit to the PNC Park:

Affordable ticket: Two suggestions for this one. The Clemente Wall seats in Right Field, Sections 142-145. Sit in the first row and a home run could land in your lap. Second option: a Standing Room Only ticket. If you don’t mind standing there are lots of places to watch the game from at PNC Park. Plus, you’ll be able to stay out of the sun if you like.

Best view & price ticket: Section 117. Great view of the game, the city skyline, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and the scoreboard. Plus, if you buy a ticket in row T or up, you’ll get some shelter from the sun or rain too.

Catch a home run ticket: The odds of catching a home run ball at PNC Park are greater in the Left Field bleachers than in Right Field because the outfield wall is lower. A second option would be the Outfield Box Section 132 which is right by the foul pole.

Avoid the sun ticket: PNC Park was constructed with home plate facing east and angled a little toward the south. This means at the beginning of an afternoon game it will be almost impossible to be out of the sun. Eventually the sun will begin to move behind the first base side of the Pirates field. This means a seat in the back rows of the 200-level and 300-level on this side of the ballpark will be your best ticket for avoiding the sun.

Splurge ticket: Club sections 14-19: You’ll be right behind home plate. The seats are padded too, and unlimited food and drinks are included with your ticket. Or sit in the 200 Level behind home plate or along the base lines. You’ll get an elevated view, wide padded seats and extra legroom. JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Avoid row A in this section or your view could be blocked by a railing.

“I’m Hungry” Ticket: Satisfy your never-ending appetite by purchasing a ticket for the All You Can Eat Seats at PNC Park. They’re located down the left field line. You’ll get to devour as many hot dogs, burgers, nachos, bags of popcorn, peanuts, and non-alcoholic drinks as you can for 7 innings.

JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Want to get a sense of the view from any seat in PNC Park before you buy your ticket? Check out the PNC Park’s 3D seating chart.

JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Get an extra bang for your buck. Once a month during the baseball season, the Pittsburgh Pirates home stadium has fireworks after the game. Check the Pirates schedule to confirm if PNC Park is putting on a show during your visit.

3. Include a tour of PNC Park in your Toronto Blue Jays travel package

Learn what makes PNC Park such a special baseball destination, as well as about the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. You can do it all when you take a tour of the Pittsburgh Pirates home stadium.

There are two types of tours of PNC Park offered during the baseball season.

In-Season, Non-Game Day Tour: On this 90-minute walking tour your guide will provide insights and information about the Pittsburgh Pirates ballpark.

You’ll be escorted to the field/warning track, bullpens, Pop’s Plaza, Pittsburgh Baseball Club Level, Luxury Suites and Press Box.

Pregame Tour: The purpose of this 60-minute tour is to give fans a taste of the preparation that takes place prior to a game at PNC Park.

Among the stops along the tour are the left field bleachers, Riverwalk, service tunnel, luxury suites and the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.

The tour will end near both teams’ dugouts where you’ll get to view BP and/or warm-ups. To be able to purchase a ticket for this tour you must have a ticket for that day’s game.

JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Tours of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball stadium are very popular. To ensure your spot the Pirates urge you to purchase your tour ticket in advance.

Note: The stops along the PNC Park tours and the tours themselves are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Pirates.

Two unique ways to arrive at the Pittsburgh Pirates home stadium

Walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge: On game days the city closes the bridge to pedestrian traffic only. Enjoy a walk from your hotel, cross the bridge with other fans, and arrive at the energetic, bustling atmosphere outside PNC Park.

Take a riverboat shuttle to the game: For a truly unique way to get to an MLB ballpark take the Gateway Clipper riverboat shuttle on the Allegheny River.

Board the shuttle at the Station Square Dock. Service begins approximately 2 hours before game time. Return shuttles from the Pirates ballpark start running at the bottom of the 7th inning and continue until a ½ an hour after the game ends.

When to arrive for your game at PNC Park

The gates to PNC Park open at two different times depending on the start time of the game and what day of the week it’s taking place.

Games where first pitch is at 6:35 PM: gates open 1 hour before game time on Monday to Thursday and 1.5 hours before game time on Friday to Saturday.

For all other start times: the gates open 1.5 hours before game time.

Arriving at the Pirates field when the gates open will give you time to explore and enjoy a variety of experiences that make visiting PNC Park so memorable.

Things to do before your Jays game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh

See the statues of Pirates legends: Outside PNC Park you’ll find statues of four of the greatest players to ever play for the Pirates and in the MLB.

  • Roberto Clemente Statue (center field entrance): Patrolled the Pirates outfield for 18 years. Clemente racked up 3,000 hits, 12 consecutive gold glove awards, 15 all-star appearances, 4 batting titles and 2 World Series championships.
  • Honus Wagner Statue (home plate entrance): Considered the best shortstop in the history of the game. Wagner finished his career with 3,420 hits, a .328 batting average and 8 National League batting titles.
  • Willie Stargell Statue (left field entrance): The charismatic, power-hitting first basemen led the Pirates to two World Series championships in 1971 and 1979.
  • Bill Mazeroski Statue (right field entrance): The man who hit the walk-off home run to win the Pirates the 1960 World Series over the New York Yankees.

Visit the Pirates Hall of Fame: Located outside PNC Park in the Legacy Square area at the left field area of the stadium. Learn about the history of the Pirates and some of the greatest MLB players to ever put on a Pirates jersey.

Walk through the 3000 Club: This is a bar in the wrap around Pirates Baseball Club area located inside on the second level of Pirates ballpark. What’s so special about it? It features photos, balls, bats and other memorabilia from players on the Pirates and other teams that have achieved 3,000 hits or more during their MLB careers.

Get a Giveaway: If there’s a game day promotion going on at the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball stadium, the earlier you enter the ballpark the greater the odds are you’ll end up getting the item they’re giving away.

Watch Batting Practice: More on this below in the next section.

What time is batting practice at PNC Park?

As is the tradition at every major league ballpark, the home team usually takes batting practice first at PNC Park approximately 2.5 hours before first pitch.

A batting practice session lasts 45 minutes.

The earliest the gates to the Pirates stadium open to the public is 1.5 hours before game time.

This means even if you’re the first person to enter the ballpark, Pirates BP will already be over. You should be able to catch the Blue Jays taking their hacks though.

Note: There’s no guarantee batting practice will take place before every game at the Pirates field. If a team’s manager wishes, they can cancel batting practice.

JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Book yourself on a Pregame Tour of PNC Park and you can watch BP from the stands near the dugouts.

Best place for autographs at the Pirates ballpark

Because the gates to PNC Park only open 1.5 hours or 1 hour before first pitch your chances of getting a Pirates player’s autograph are low. You may be able to get one from a Jays player though. To give it a try head down to the section of the seats that are along the first base line of the Pirates ballpark. Specifically Field Level Box Sections 5-8 and the Dugout Box Sections 9-13.

If it’s an autograph from as Pirates player that you want, go and hang out near the 3rd base dugout area. You might get lucky.

Don’t forget epic selfies as part of your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh

Being one of the most photogenic stadiums in the major leagues, PNC Park offers up a host of awesome selfie spots. Here are some of the ones at the Pirates ballpark that we think are picture perfect.

Walking across the Roberto Clemente Bridge: An iconic landmark that every baseball fan will instantly recognize as “Pittsburgh”.

The Main Entrance: The retro-classic design and unmistakable PNC Park sign makes this the perfect spot to kick off your camera roll.

Beside a player statue: Around the perimeter of the Pittsburgh Pirates home stadium you’ll find statues of Pirates legendary players. Strike a pose with statues of Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski.

In Legacy Square: Take a pic beside a plaque or banner on display in the Pirates Hall of Fame area at PNC Park.

With the Skyline: Get to the Pittsburgh Pirates ballpark early and find a spot behind home plate at a higher level. From here take a selfie with the ball field, and the downtown Pittsburgh skyline, as a gorgeous background.

6 ballpark foods you gotta try at PNC Park

PNC Park serves up some ballpark food that is as unique as the ballpark. Here are a few suggestions you should belly up to the counter for when attending your Jays game at PNC Park.

Primanti Bros. Sandwich: A Pittsburgh classic. Features grilled meat, coleslaw, tomatoes, and French fries, all stuffed between two thick slices of Italian bread.

Pierogi Stacker: PNC Park pays homage to Pittsburgh’s Eastern European heritage with the Pierogi Stacker. Enjoy pierogies topped with caramelized onions, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

Pot Roast Nachos: A twist on traditional nachos. Feature slow-cooked pot roast, tortilla chips, cheese, and various toppings.

Tatchos: A fusion of tater tots and nachos. Tatchos are loaded with cheese, bacon, green onions, and other toppings.

Chicken and Waffle Cone: A sweet and savory option to enjoy during your game at the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball field. Combines fried chicken bites with a waffle cone, drizzled with maple syrup.

Dessert Nachos: A sweet twist on the traditional nachos. Cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips topped with chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, and other sweet toppings.

Shop for a souvenir of your Toronto Blue Jays vacation package to Pittsburgh

If your visit to PNC Park won’t be complete without some Pirates merch make sure you pop into the Pirates Clubhouse Store. It’s located at the left field entrance to the ballpark near the Willie Stargell statue.

Here you’ll find Pirates gear, hats, exclusive PNC Park items, bobbleheads, commemorative baseballs, collectibles, pins, artwork, Pirates pet apparel and more.

Take home memorabilia that was used on the Pirates field

Looking for a souvenir that has even more meaning? How about an official game-used or autographed item?

Check out the selection at the Hunt Auctions Booth, located on the main concourse of PNC Park behind section 125.

Every game there’s something new. Items can include bases, bats, helmets, jerseys, baseballs and more.

After-the-game plans to include in your Blue Jays road trip itinerary to Pittsburgh

5 dining recommends near PNC Park

Feel like grabbing some grub before or after your Pirates game at PNC Park? These five options are all located near the Pirates ballpark.

Burgatory: A burger-centric restaurant with a creative and customizable menu. Known for its gourmet burgers, hand-spun shakes, and unique toppings.

The Foundry Table & Tap: Diverse menu with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. Features a welcoming atmosphere, craft beers, and a selection of elevated comfort foods. Try the Braised Short Rib Pierogi Stack.

Mike’s Beer Bar: Over 300 local beers and 80 rotating taps of local craft beer. Casual pub atmosphere. Order the “Pierogi Pizza” for a unique twist on Pittsburgh’s pierogi tradition.

Tako: Taco and tequila bar. Enjoy innovative taco creations and craft cocktails. Try the Korean Short Rib Taco for a fusion of flavors.

Federal Galley: 4 unique restaurant concepts under one roof. Great for a large group who can’t decide on where they want to eat before or after a game at PNC Park.

Other things to add to your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh

Does your trip to Pittsburgh to take in a Jays vs. Pirates game at PNC Park includes a few days to explore the city? Here are some attractions and activities you should check out.

Watch Pittsburgh’s other major league sports teams: While you’re in town for a ball game go see an NFL or NHL game too. Depending on the timing of your visit you could see the Pittsburgh Steelers or Pittsburgh Penguins in action. Check Stubhub or SeatGeek for tickets.

Visit The Clemente Museum: Explore the life and career of this Pittsburgh Pirates icon. The museum features a collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

Tour the Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers: Go on a guided, behind-the-scenes tour of the Steelers home stadium. Includes access to the locker rooms, playing field and more.

Get a pic with Fred Rogers’ Memorial Statue: Pose beside this statue of the star of the famous children’s television show “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”.

Go on a River Cruise: Board one of the boats in the Gateway Clipper Fleet and take a sightseeing or sunset cruise along the three rivers that frame Pittsburgh.

Plus, I would also suggest checking Groupon and Viator for more money-save discounts on things to see and do in Pittsburgh.

Enjoy your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Pittsburgh!

Photo Credit: MLB