After putting it off for a couple years, Julie and I finally managed to catch a game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.  To say I was impressed with the stadium would be an understatement.  The game was sold out (which was suprising to me but it probably had a lot to do with the post game Huey Lewis and The News concert) which made for a great environment.  This is the first sold out baseball game I’ve been to in at least two years.  We had seats right off first base about 25 rows from the field.  Like most new stadiums, the concourses at PNC are wide open and you have great sight lines to the field.  In what turned out to be the quickest game I’ve been to all year the Pirates won 3-2. Afterwards we stayed for the concert and fireworks.

Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum

After checking into the hotel Julie and I wandered over to the Heinz Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.  The exhibits were pretty extensive, from world marble champions to exhibits on the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Sadly, there was no Terrelle Pryor exhibit.  The museum is part of the larger Heinz History Musuem which had several other exhibits I would have liked to have seen if we had more time to spare.  The admission was only $10.

Church Brew Works

After the museum we headed over to the Church Brew Works that Imperial Josh has been raving about for some time.  The Church Brew Works is in the former Roman Catholic St. John the Baptist Church.  The layout is great. When you enter, the first thing you see is the brew tanks in place of the altar, all of the seats in the dining area are pews and the place smells like a church.  We were there for the afternoon mass.  I stuck to the Thunderhop IPA and the Pipe Organ Pale Ale, we also took a 6 pack of the Thunderhop for tailgating.

On our way to the tailgate we made a stop at the Pittsburgh Public Market to pick up a growler of Pedal Pale Ale by East End Brewing for good measure.

Duquesne Incline

Before we headed back home Sunday morning we walked over from our hotel to the Duquesne Incline.  It was quite muggy in the morning but the view was still worth it.

Side Notes:

* Before the game I hid my empty East End growler in the bushes outside the stadium and this was the celebratory photograph after I reclaimed what was rightfully mine.

** The View From My Seat.

*** Dog the Bounty Hunter attended the game.

**** Most of these photographs were taken by Julie.

*****Year of Baseball Stats:
Game No. 10
Stadium Opened: March 31, 2001
Capacity: 38,496
Attendance: 39,273
Food: 1 basket of hand cut fries.
Beer: 2 Pedal Pale Ale, 1 IC Light
Opponent: New York Mets
Pitchers:  W: McDonald, L: Dickey
Miles From Home: 411.5
Ticket Face Value: $30
Seat Location: Section 110, Row S, Seat 7