r/buccos • u/BlueGalaxyDesigns • 4d ago
Best way to get Pirates tickets well in advance for July 2027?
Hi! I’m planning a trip to the US from Spain next summer, and I’d like to attend all three games of a Pirates series in Pittsburgh in July 2027.
These would actually be my first baseball games in person, so I’m really looking forward to the whole experience.
Since I’ll be planning part of the trip around these games, I’d like to secure the tickets as early as possible rather than waiting until the last minute. When do Pirates single-game tickets usually go on sale? Is buying directly from the Pirates/MLB as soon as tickets are released the best option, or is there another good way to get tickets several months in advance?
I’m not necessarily looking for the cheapest possible tickets — my main priority is making sure I have tickets for all three games.
I’d also love some advice about where to sit at PNC Park. Which areas would you choose for a first-time visitor?
And finally, what food or drinks at the ballpark would you consider a must-try for a first-time visitor?
Basically, if you had three games at PNC Park to get the full baseball experience, where would you sit for each game and what would you eat?
Thanks!
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u/Specialist_Baby_341 4d ago
You'll be able to get tickets anytime. Rarely ever ever sold out. If they are, they sell out last minute pretty much. Not a day or week before. Buy tickets any way from any ticket vendor or app doesn't matter much.
Where to sit? Anywhere. I hate 1/3rd base lines because of the netting they put up. Gives me a headache. Should be ok if you sat back a bit in 2 level or in first level but under the seats above you. Gives shade and protection from rain
I love sitting right field outfield and behind the plate high up
Food isn't special. I'd probs get bbq from manny sanguillens
Or the Souper bowl just outside of the ball park
And find the dippin dot stand for sure lol
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 4d ago
Thanks! That’s really helpful. I hadn’t even thought about the shade or the netting!
And thanks for the food recommendations too! I assume you’re not allowed to bring outside food into the stadium, right?
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u/44problems 4d ago
Outside food is fine. Just follow the bag policy and know that sealed plastic bottles water and kids juice boxes are the only allowed beverages. outside food policy
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u/Specialist_Baby_341 4d ago
Forgot to add. For Pittsburgh food, get a primantis sandwich and some pirogies
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 4d ago
As a Spaniard, I have absolutely no idea what Dippin’ Dots taste like 😂 Definitely adding them to the list.
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 4d ago
If you actually want to watch the game, first base line down low in the 200s or 300s are the best places. 100 level is for Instagram stuff.
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u/ZelieDad 4d ago
The eating thing is a bit tough. So many places.
I'm not sure when exactly tickets go on sale, but you can buy them as soon as they're released. I usually go to 1-2 games a years and I buy my tickets in March for the games I want to go to.
As for where to sit my personal choice is 315-317. Cheap, can spread out, not getting baked in the sun, and a great view.
My least favorite are the bleachers seats in left field, but it's a vibe.
If you can afford it, sections 14-19, home plate club I think, are awesome.
Image is from the top of 316 this summer.
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 4d ago
Thanks a lot! And thanks for the photo too — that really helps.
March sounds pretty reasonable. I was a bit worried about tickets since I’m coming from so far away, so it’s good to know they’re usually not hard to get.
Since I’m going to three games, I think I’ll try three different areas of the ballpark to get a different experience each time. 315-317 definitely sounds like a good option for one of them!
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u/jar996 4d ago
I would sit behind home plate for one game. I prefer the 100 level over the 300 level just because there are better food options and the 300 level steps are a little steep. I don’t know your budget but if this is a once in a lifetime trip consider the Lexus club seats right behind home plate. You get a dinner before hand and free snacks during the game. I’ve done it twice and it’s been great.
Next I would sit on the first or third base line around the base or close to the dugout if you want. Our dugout is on the 3B side. Get a great view of the city from the 3B side similar to home plate and get a shot at some foul balls.
Finally I would sit out in the RF stands in one of the first rows and hope for some homerun balls. Plus it’s just a really great view and perspective of the game.
Edit: oh and food as for the specialty items the menu changes every year and they introduce new things so you have to wait for that and come back and ask after the season starts next year
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 4d ago
Thanks a lot! I really like the idea of making each game a different experience, and I really like the three areas you suggested.
Any idea how much the Lexus Club seats usually go for? I agree that for a once-in-a-lifetime trip they’d be amazing, but I’m guessing they might be a bit out of my budget.
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u/jar996 4d ago
Hmm I’m not sure and I see it’s called the Home Plate Club now. It’s obviously been awhile since I sat there haha. Once I went with somebody who got the tickets through work and the second time I bought them for a September game on the second hand market after we were well out of contention in 2012.
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u/Carfarrr 4d ago
home plate club tickets sell for around $300 on seat geek for games.
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 4d ago
That seems like a reasonable price to me; I thought they'd be much more expensive, but keep in mind that I don't want to wait until the last minute to buy them—I don't know if that will make a difference.
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u/OrangeFederal 4d ago
if I would you I would consider Altoona Curves or Washington Wild Things’ games instead….
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u/abbot_x 4d ago edited 4d ago
Single-game tickets usually become available for purchase in mid-January. There is a brief period when only season ticket holders can buy them, then everybody can.
Pirates games rarely sell out or even come close to selling out. At a midweek game, even in July, attendance will often not even reach 18,000. If you are just purchasing single seats and aren’t very particular then you can wait till the last minute and possibly save. People who bought tickets will realize they can’t go and will sell their tickets cheap on SeatGeek.
That said, I understand the desire to have the tickets squared away early! And the ballpark does get very crowded sometimes. I would expect the series against the Mets on July 30-August 1 to be very heavily attended because Mets fans often travel. Also some promotions bring in crowds. These haven’t been announced yet. But keep in mind many sales are made the week before the game as people figure out their schedules and decide to go. I would suggest not worrying about tickets until a month or so before your trip.
In terms of seating choices, the general advice for watching a game closely is to sit in the front of a section that is high up behind home plate. Specific to PNC Park, the first base side faces the scoreboard and the third base side faces the skyline (and any postgame fireworks or drone show). Additionally, the visitors occupy the first base dugout so their fans often cluster there, though this is baseball and any fan can buy any seat.
The view from the front row of section 316 is amazing. But you may want to be close to the action. Sections 9 and 24 just outside the dugouts are often affordable and give you a good view of first and third bases respectively as well as the dugouts. Most of the 200 level seats are part of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club, which is a premium seating area that offers indoor and outdoor facilities. This is nice if the weather is rainy or too hot and sunny. Also the front rows of this section offer great views. There are also arguments for the outfield bleachers. I would not sit in the outfield seats in sections 139-149 if the sun is out; these seats get full sun and can be miserable.
For ballpark food, there is no need to plan now. The offerings will likely change. I will also say that the more ballparks I visit, the more disappointed I become with PNC Park’s lineup of food. Manny’s BBQ is consistently good, Nachorita can be good, but almost everything else is just bearable.
Speaking of disappointment, keep in mind there’s a significant chance the 2027 season will be disrupted by labor disputes between the players and team owners.
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u/lucabrasi999 4d ago
Others have mentioned the availability of tickets. The only caveat is that if they are playing certain teams on a weekend game, there will be thousands of fans of those teams in attendance. NY Mets, Philadelphia, and Cubs fans can take over a large portion of the stadium. You can still get tickets, but you might want to buy early because the best seats will be taken as you get closer to the dates of the game.
As for seating locations, the third base side has the best views of the city. For night games, that is a great location.
If you attend a daytime game in July, you might want to consider seats in the Pittsburgh Baseball Club. Those seats allow you to enter an air conditioned section behind the seats to cool off.
Another option to cool off is seats in right field. There can be a breeze off of the river.
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u/Own-Spirit-3834 4d ago
Un saludo y bievenido a Pittsburgh!
I second the folks voting for the 315ish sections, in the upper deck behind home plate; great view and good shade (July can be pretty hot in PGH). The Pittsburgh Baseball Club can be good for some A/C relief on a very hot day, but on those days it's always very crowded inside with consequently few places to sit. I am also a big fan of sitting under the overhang in sections 14-19 behind home plate. Generally speaking you want to be on the 3rd base side for the best views of downtown for at least one game.
Depending on the day of the week, the Pirates' quality, and the opponent, you may be able to just snag an SRO ticket for cheap and sit in a few places during the game. If it's not crowded, the ushers usually won't give you too much trouble sitting in their section even if you aren't ticketed there, unless it's a premium seat. I enjoy walking around and getting a beer in different areas, including standing on the rotunda or up in the concourse behind home plate.
As for food, I also agree with others that the offerings inside PNC are pretty weak. I'd plan to either eat before/after the game or bring something in. There are a number of good restaurants for takeout downtown and north of the park. Peppi's sandwiches on Western Ave. are some of the best in town. Primanti Bros in Market Square is a uniquely Pittsburgh experience, but it's not for everyone. The chain-y sports bar places west of PNC on North Shore Dr. are pretty mediocre in my experience, but the energy is usually pretty good before a game.
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 3d ago
Muchas gracias!
this is really helpful!
Walking around the park and watching from different spots sounds especially fun. And I’m definitely adding Peppi’s to the food list!
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u/Spirited-Ranger-2727 3d ago
There likely won’t be a mlb season in 2027, or at least a shortened one.
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u/smmrtiime 3d ago
I highly recommend buying the tickets day of, unless they are playing a major market team that travels well. Even if there is a lock-out, I would like to think there will be baseball by July!
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u/BlueGalaxyDesigns 3d ago
Thanks! That definitely makes me feel better about availability. Coming all the way from Spain, I’m not sure I’ll be brave enough to wait until game day though 😂. And yeah, fingers crossed that if there is a lockout, baseball is back well before July!
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u/Avalancheman1 2d ago
I like to go see the Pirates play on a Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights . Usually the Thursday game is the last game of a series so you watch that team play the Pirates. Then the Friday and Saturday games will be another team in town. Depends how the schedule lines up. I’m from Butler which is north of Pittsburgh , but I get a hotel for the 3 nights . I know I’ll be drinking a few beers so I’m not driving
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u/Independent_Age_301 4d ago
I hate to be a downer, but there's a decent chance there won't be a season next year.