The Best Ballpark In Baseball

With the MLB season finally underway, and with warm spring weather just around the corner, it won’t be long before family outings and nights at the ballpark begin once again.

There are many great baseball stadiums around the country, both in the minor and major leagues, and every single one is special in its own way. 

But none is more special, more beautiful than the best stadium in all of the MLB. PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Built in 2001 to replace Three Rivers Stadium, which housed both the Pirates and Steelers, it quickly became a favorite ballpark for lots of MLB fans. 

There quite literally isn’t a bad seat in the house at PNC Park. There is no such thing as the “nosebleeds” there. The dimensions of the stadium made it so that even if you are in the farthest point from the field, you still feel somewhat close.There is great outfield seating, with a party area out there if you are going for a special event, and sitting atop the high Clemente Wall is a fun experience. I’ve sat all over the stadium and still haven’t found a bad spot yet. Its proximity to downtown and the Allegheny River also makes this stadium great. The Roberto Clemente Bridge is an awesome way to enter the stadium from downtown, it offers a beautiful view of the stadium as you walk across. When the game is over, the bridge is a convenient way to head into town to get some food or drinks.  

But what really makes this stadium unique is its view. The backdrop behind the stadium is absolutely gorgeous. The ballpark is right on the river, so it has a spectacular view of that. Watching a player blast a homerun into the water is always a perk of a stadium like this. Just past the river is the Pittsburgh skyline, it is so close to the stadium that it looks huge. At night it is an amazing view with the lights of downtown emanating. At sunset, the sky around the buildings grows orange. Even during the day, the bright blue skies complenties the city well. 

I understand when people try to argue about other stadiums being the best. Wrigley Field is historic. The ivy is such a fun feature of the stadium Dodger Stadium is also historic and offers a nice view of the Chavez Ravine. Fenway Park is great, the Green Monster is a must-see for any baseball fan and there is a nice view of Boston’s skyline in the distance. 

But, PNC Park has all of these elements in its stadium. No, it isn’t historic. The city view is unlike any other. The river behind the stadium is set up perfectly, Oracle Park has the Bay, but a flowing river cutting the stadium from downtown just looks so much cooler. 

Sure, the Pirates aren’t the best team in baseball. If you go to the ballpark there is a good chance you’ll see a loss. But it is one of the best experiences in all of baseball, and that makes it worth it.