Baseball in the 'burgh
 

Come join other FlyerTalkers for a baseball game on a warm summer night for an evening of Baseball at Pittsburgh's new PNC Park.

As of today, June 14th, I still have some tickets left if anyone is interested.

I put up a basic website for this event:
Baseball in the 'burgh

Event: Baseball in the 'burgh
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Texas Rangers
Saturday, June 22nd @ 7:05pm
Seats: Section 124 Virtual View
Cost: $27 per person

I wasn't sure we would have 30 folks attending, so I have purchased a total of 20 seats in a block. Although, we aren't 'ofishuly' a group, all the seats are together.

Ticket Purchase: Ticket cost is $27/seat. You can pay via PayPal or by sending a check to me. If you want to pay via PayPal, use the address in the email icon above(didn't want to post it in the body of a message). If you wish to pay by check, please send me an email for the address. If you are paying by check, please note that I will be away 5/20-6/2 and won't be able to collect my mail. Any tix paid by check during that time won't be mailed until after I come back. If you do pay by PayPal during that time, I will have the tix with me and get them right out.

Hotels: Pittsburgh has the usual variety of hotels within walking distance of the ball park (transport from the Sheraton is via boat). The Renaissance is the closest and one of my favorites(there's a map of local hotels on the website).

Other Activities: I don't live in PIT and as a result am unable to plan other types of activities (food, liquid libation). As we get closer to event, hopefully someone else will try to provide a bit more help along this line.

This top post of the message thread will be kept current to provide the latest information about the event.


[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 06-14-2002).]

What day of the week is this? Depending on my travel schedule for that area of the country, I might be able to swing it...

After all, someone has to cheer the Rangers on!

Sounds great!

It's a little early to know if I'll be in town, but if I'm home that weekend, count me in.
...just watch out for Pitflyer, he'll try to bump you out of your box seat into the bleachers http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

And if anyone is a big roller coaster fan, Pittsburgh has a neat old amusement park called Kennywood which has some of the best coasters in the world. Could be a Sunday afternoon thing!

Take care

Put me down as a definite "maybe". Once the weather warms up a bit I'll be planning ballpark runs, and I wouldn't mind seeing Pittsburgh's again at all (I caught a game last year). Also, I grew up there.

HometoPit: <grin>

BillMorrow: Make that pitflyer and wife, just so you have an accurate headcount. We'll be there 99% sure; just can't commit 100% something so far out. Kennywood is awesome, of course. Other options are the Andy Warhol Museum (near the stadium), The History Center, up and down the inclines, Station Square, etc, etc.

The stadium is pretty awesome, so I would definitely invite baseball enthusiasts to the area. Just look past the performance on the field..

BTW The Westin is part of the Starwood hotel group, not Hilton. The Omni is my #1 choice for a hotel except no points, but excellent service.

[This message has been edited by pitflyer (edited 01-24-2002).]

Please put me down as very interested and probable. Got to check out a couple of things. Would love to see all those former Tulsa Driller players play the Pirates.

[This message has been edited by TOOLMAN (edited 05-14-2002).]

Count me in as a maybe. The Ranger's are my team and I really want to see PNC Park. However, I have a wedding to go to that same day in Cleveland and I'm not sure what time the reception will be over with. It's not that far of a drive to Pittsburgh from Cleveland right?

Pittsburgh to Cleveland is two hours (frequent fliers trying to save money know this route well) from airport to airport. If you are going from downtown to downtown, maybe add another half hour.

As I mentioned, I really just wanted to get a feel for level of interest at this point. It definitely looks like we can, at the least, get a small group together.

techgirl,
It's a Saturday night.

Applefan,
I would suggest 2-2.5 hours for the trip depending on where you are coming from in the CLE area. Do you know the name of the town/area of Cleveland where the reception is going to be held? I spent a couple of years there and might be able to give you a better idea if I knew the town.

I'll try to post more over the weekend if I have time. I'm heading to the 'burgh for the AFC Championship game. I got a feelin........




[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 01-25-2002).]

Mark me down as a possible for this.

I was in the 'burgh last weekend and had a chance to visit the Pirates Fan Fest. I talked to the group sales folks there and will be talking to them again tomorrow. It turns out the 6/22 game will Carribean night with special food and music on Sixth street before the game.

Here's a basic website with info about the game.

Where is everyone interested in sitting? Personally, I like the idea of sitting in boxes along the 3rd base line. Another possiblity would be one of the party boxes along the 3rd base line. These party boxes seat 30-40 people. Other locations are definitely possible. Any thoughts, comments?

I did some checking and found out that the Gateway Clipper fleet does pre and post service to PNC Park. This should take care of anyone staying at the Sheraton.

Billmorrow, It seems you have a good feel for the facility. I have never been. Boxes on 3rd sound great.

Please put HollyHP and Mr. HollyHP as possibles for this. That's within driving distance of us (though we may just drive up Saturday to arrive sort of 2:00 pm-ish and just stay one night), and we love baseball if not the teams playing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I've sat in the cheap seats the two times I've been there, so box seats sound nice. You have me listed twice (once as with Mrs. Pitflyer and once without) .. I know I'm overweight but I'm not that big, I think http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Third base box seats or a "party box" sounds great. And right now my schedule says I'm in.

And I'm not a local or even a Pennsylvanian but I am a professional beer drinker (OK, I write a column for a beer magazine, but I've got to drink the stuff before I can write about it, don't I?) so if I can propose a possible gathering spot for a Saturday or Sunday lunch/brunch it would be a meeting at the Church Brew Works on Liberty Avenue, a century-old former church that's been turned into one of the best brewpubs in the eastern U.S. (with the brewery where the altar used to be -- let's talk symbolism).

Their website is at http://www.churchbrew.com/ if you'd like to read more about them.

(edited to correct typo)

[This message has been edited by greggwiggins (edited 02-06-2002).]

As a new FlyerTalker and a new Pittsburgher, I need to get out more...count Mrs. and me in!

As they say, YMMV, and these are subjective decisions. Foundry's good, but personally I prefer the beers from Church, and the ambiance of its setting in the former St. John the Baptist is unique.

I'm not familiar with the Sharp Edge -- but that's an excellent beer selection listed on their website and I think I'll have to check them out on a future visit to Pittsburgh.

The Sharp Edge is new to me also. I'll try it next time I'm in town.

Whenever I get into town, I always try to make it to Fatheads (Carson St on the South Side). For my money, this is the best food/beer deal in the 'burgh. They have about 40 beers (~75% imports) on draft and lots of bottles. The sandwiches are huge, excellent and cheap. I'm not a chicken wings fan, but they get very high marks on these. Go hungry and skip the appetizers. If you haven't been there in a while, they have doubled their space which is a great improvement.

For other folks who aren't familiar with Pittsburgh, they might enjoy:
-riding the incline to the top of Mt Washington
-walking the Strip District on Saturday AM for the shopping experience
-cruising the Strip District at night for the club action
-Kennywood as previously mentioned
-classrooms at the Cathedral of Learning

any other ideas?

If the new Hard Rock Cafe is open it may be cool to check it out. Station Square is getting a bunch of new shops this summer, including this one.

http://www.hardrock.com/corporate/pr...tent.asp?id=21

An exact opening date is not listed. If folks want to spend the afternoon at Kennywood before the game, maybe us locals can pick up visitors from downtown and head over to Kennywood and back in time for the game.

If you can also include a trip out to
The Original Hot Dog Shop- I might be in for another road trip to PIT

Out of all the home games... you're picking the Rangers???

My attendance will be dependent upon US fare sales.

They wanted one that the Pirates might actually win. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif *ducks*

Actually, when I thought of this, I was looking at weekends when the weather would be warm, but before most families begin summer vacations. So that meant late May or in June. The only weekend stand in late May is a weekend that I have to be somewhere else. That left the Brewers or the Rangers in June. I thought the Rangers would be better because it might attract some AA and CO flyers in addition to all the US folks.

Seeing the Rangers is OK by me - I can wear my old Washington Senators cap.

It may be the last chance before I buy my new Washington Expos cap.

Is there still any interest in this? ORD-PIT fares are muy cheapo right now http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

uh, ahem. Did anyone notice who is leading the central division http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

I'm still hoping to attend. Trying like the dickens to be home that weekend.

HomeToPit, please don't jinx it. I know we in the Burgh are all getting a little giddy at being several games OVER 500 (I can't believe it either) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

As per the event, BillMorrow is running it and I think it's still on...

How about them Bucs? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I have been talking to the Pirates. The 6/22 Rangers night is their 'Latin and Carribean Festival'. From the Pirates: "Arrive early For Latin and Caribbean Fest, located on Federal Street from 4:00 p.m. to game time. Enjoy live music, entertainment, kids games and family fun".

I have a block of seats reserved. They are in Section 124 and start about 20 rows back. The seats are also under cover in case of inclement weather. Here's a Virtual View from those seats. I think this a good location with a nice view of the downtown skyline.

At this point, I have to make a go/no go decision on the seats within a few days. The problem is that 30 is the smallest block of seats that they will reserve for a group. So far, only 19 folks have shown interest. I am leaning on 'going for it' knowing how events around here tend to expand in numbers as an event approaches. Also, I know can sell 5-6 tix to family members in the area if need be.

The advantage to getting a group is that all the seats are together and will put a 'Welcome FlyerTalkers' message on the scoreboard (excellent photo moment).

So is the interest still there? If so, I will go ahead and confirm the tickets. I'll be sending everyone an e-mail to get an idea to gauge this. Still no financial commitment at this time, but I will need payment one month in advance. The ticket price is $27.

I'll committ for two tix, Bill. I'll plan to write you a check a month in advance.

Good luck and thanks for putting all this together.

Put me down for one ticket. I can't resist sandwiching a Steel City Run(tm) around a baseball game! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Did you notice that you can go one section over (125 instead of 124) and tickets are $24 instead of $27?

Put me down for one ticket. If anybody is coming into PIT for the game, let me know. If possible I can pick you up from the airport.

Bill, I just changed my email address.

Take care!
GO BUCCOs

I'm still planning on attending. The Rangers should be able to supply some competition by then. Guess I should start getting serious and plan a little segment run.

BillMorrow,

Put me down as a definite maybe! I may be able to carpool to the game from DC with a longtime Pirates fan friend who has plans to be there that night (he has his own ticket already).

Besides, it'd be a great opportunity to boo John Rocker!

You can put me down for a ticket. I'll figure out how to get there one way or another hopefully. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just did some checking, and the Renaissance is a Category 3 property, which means I can even use my free stay certs I'll be earning through Marriott's very generous Take 2 promotion ... if they send them to me on time ...

Beckles, I heard someone mention on the Marriott board that they saw it electronically credited to their account.. I don't know if that means they don't still send the certs afterwards, wasn't clear.

In any case, if you don't get them, Priceline gets 3* or better hotels downtown for around $30-$40. Unless you get into Station Square, downtown is all within easy walking distance of PNC Park. Station Square usually has a water taxi for a buck or so.

Hey Bill, we a go on this? I can actually get a decent fare out of CLT in advance for PIT, but I need to buy it soon!

Beckles,

We are go!!!!

I was at a point where I had to make a financial commitment to the Bucs. After a lot of thought, I wasn't sure if we could use 30 seats. As a result, I simply bought 20 seats outright. These seats are in the same location as previously mentioned. The only difference is that we are not 'ofishuly' a group and will not get our name on the score board.

I'll post more over the weekend and update this thread and the website. I'm just finishing a long, hard stretch of workdays and should be able to catch everything up.


[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 04-18-2002).]

Great ... please email me your address ( mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>) and the total cost and I'll send you a check for my ticket.

Advertised in today's Post-Gazette:

"Plan a family basketball weekend at the Hilton Pittsburgh, just a homerun away from PNC Park.. with our special $99 per night rate.. for June 21-22 .. includes room, complimentary downtown self-parking and two Pirate Baseball Souvenir caps. Simply visit hilton.com or call 1-800-HILTONS or the Hilton Pittsburgh at 412-391-4600. Ask for plan code PC."

Not the best deal and it's for the night BEFORE the game planned for this event, but out there if you want it.