MY TAKE ON THE PARK

 MANY TIMES WHEN A TEAM ISN'T GOOD FOR OH SAY 10 YEARS, ONE FORGETS HOW MUCH HISTORY A FRANCHISE HAS, PNC PARK REMINDS US OF ALL THE GREATS THAT HAVE MADE STOPS IN PITTSBURGH. FROM THE STATUES OF HONUS WAGENR AND ROBERTO CLEMENTE TO THE TAPESTRIES IN THE ROTUNDAS, THE HISTORY LESSON OF THE PIRATES  WOULD MAKE THE STADIUM A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT ... BUT THERE IS MORE .. OH SO MUCH MORE.

  HEADING OUT TO THE GAME MAKE SURE TO LEAVE EXTRA TIME TO ABSORB ALL THERE IS TO DO AT THIS NEW PARK. DRIVE TO THE GAME AND PARK IN THE SHADOWS OF HEINZ FIELD, PARK DOWNTOWN AND TAKE THE PRE-GAME STROLL ACROSS THE CLEMENTE BRIDGE, CLOSED TO VEHICLES ON GAME DAYS, OR TAKE A FERRY WHICH DOCKS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE OUTFIELD WALL. ONCE AT THE PARK, TAKE A STROLL AROUND THE EXTERIOR AREAS OF THE PARK; THE SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND BARS ALL FILLED WITH BASEBALL TALK GETTING READY FOR THE GAME. 

 ONCE IN LEFT FIELD, TAKE A STROLL UP THE ROTUNDA FOR A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.THIS ROTUNDA IS DRAPED WITH TAPESTRIES OF OLD PIRATE BASEBALL CARDS WHERE YOU INSTANTLY REMEMBER WHO YOU HAD AND WHO YOU NEEDED .. "GOT EM GOT EM, NEED EM NEED EM"

DEFINITLY NOT A PLACE TO RUSH, TAKE A BREAK, LOOK OUT ONTO THE FIELD OR OUT INTO THE CITY, EITHER WAY YOU HAVE A PERFECT VIEW.

ONCE TO THE UPPER DECK, WHICH I BELIEVE IS AS HIGH AS THE SECOND DECK IN THREE RIVERS, HEAD OUT TO THE SEATING AREA WHERE IF THE VIEW OF THE CITY DOESN'T HIT YOU, THE VIEW OF THE FIELD WILL. DEEP BLUE SEATS SURROUND THE FULL GREEN OF THE GRASS, ALL BLENDING IN WITH THE YELLOW OF THE BRIDGES BEYOND THE OUTFIELD.

 AS GAME TIME APPROACHES, YOU WILL WANT TO BE AT YOUR SEAT EARLY BECAUSE THE PIRATES REALLY DO EMBRACE THE PIRATE IMAGE BY SHOWING SOME PRETTY ENTERTAINING VIDEOS PERTAINING TO THE VISITING TEAM AND THE PIRATES.. NOT TO BE MISSED.  

 FORTUNATELY, THE SCOREBOARD HERE NOT ONLY HANDLES THE ENTERTAINMENT, BUT HANDLES THE GAME; VERY WELL I MIGHT ADD.. THE BOARD IS BUSY AND INFORMATIVE KEEPING YOU UPDATED ON EVERY PITCH AND SCORING DECISION.  ALSO, THE PLAYER PHOTOS ARE NOT THE SAME ONE EVERY TIME, 3RD TIME THROUGH THE LINE UP THEY MAY EVEN COME UP IN A PIRATE OUTFIT.

 THE FOOD HERE INCLUDES LOCAL FAVORITES AS WELL AS STANDARD BALLPARK FARE, ALL PRETTY CHEAP GOING BY BALLPARK STANDARDS.

 THE PIRATES HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD WITH THE STADIUM, NOW THEY NEED A WINNER ON THE FIELD AGAIN, AND THE FANS WILL COME BACK. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE THIS PLACE WILL HAVE WITH A WINNER.

 I RATE IT AHEAD OF TIGER STADIUM BECAUSE OF THE COMFORT FACTOR AND THE FACILITIES.

 A TRIP TO PNC PARK, GET THERE EARLY AND STROLL THE LEFT FIELD ROTUNDA, WHEN THE GAME IS OVER STROLL DOWN THE HOME PLATE ROTUNDA FOR A PIRATE HISTORY LESSON. IN BETWEEN, ENJOY ONE OF THE FINEST BALLPARKS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.