Pirates Spring Training

2012 First Practice Dates
Pitchers & Catchers: February 19 Position Players: February 24

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Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule

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McKechnie Field

Spring Training home of the Pirates since 1969

Ballpark address:
1611 9th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Opened: 1923
Capacity: 6,602

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Location
McKechnie Field is shoehorned into a Bradenton neighborhood, where it's bordered by homes and businesses in a setting appropriate for the era in which it was originally built. The ballpark is at the intersections of 17th Avenue West and 9th Street West.

Directions

From the North or South on I-75:
Take the Route 64 exit (220 from the South; 220B from the North) and travel west to 9th Street West. Turn left and proceed to the stadium.

From St. Petersburg (North):
Take the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ($1 toll) to the 19 South exit. Continue on 41 South towards Bradenton/Sarasota until 17th Avenue West, where you turn right. The stadium is a short distance ahead.

Parking
This is the only stadium in the Grapefruit League without an official parking lot. But you can pick and choose from plenty of places to park thanks to local businesses and homeowners. Your best bet is the large grass field behind center field, which belongs to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. That's where the signs that say "Baseball Parking" take you.
Cost: Varies, from $7 (Boys & Girls Club) to $3-$10 (neighborhood) to Free (curbside on 17 Ave. W just past the 5 St. W intersection and Rogers Garden Elementary School)

Stadium Information
Baseball has been played on the grounds of McKechnie Field since 1923, making it the granddaddy of spring training ballparks. Completely remodeled in 1993, the classically styled ballpark exudes charm, starting with its Spanish Mission-style exterior. The ballpark maintains its distinct look on the inside, where the main grandstand is split into three covered sections. Prior to 2008 there were no lights, but thanks to a $15 million grant from the state of Florida they were finally installed and McKechnie Field hosted its first ever night game on March 19, 2008. All games are played on the most lush coat of green grass that you'll ever see while the zany and green garmented Pirate Parrot mascot is seemingly omnipresent in the stands. Real birds are often frequent visitors too, as seagulls flock from the nearby coastal waterway to the grandstand in search of scraps near the end of games. During them breezes rustle the Pirates pennants and palm trees beyond the outfield fence. The stadium had numerous names until 1962, when it was named after Bradenton's Bill McKechnie in honor of his induction that year into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager.

Fast Facts

Fans enter the ballpark at street level. Most use the main entrance near home plate. A much lesser used gate is down the left field line.

Ticket windows are in the building next to the main entrance gate. The ticket office building is also where Will Call pick ups are done.

The concourse is behind the stadium and is covered by the grandstands but not the bleachers.

Access to seating sections is slightly elevated from the concourse. Seven small steps must be climbed at the walkways on either side of the home plate box seats. Ramps with a slight incline are used at the stadium's other four entry walkways.

The bullpens are located down the foul lines at the end of the grandstands - the Pirates in right, visitors in left. The set-up is very fan accessible and allows for autograph opportunities during the game.

A pair of covered batting cages are on the far end of the first base concourse, where an easy to see through chain-link fence is the only thing separating fans from the Pirates players who occasionally work on their swing there during and after the game.

The stadium's only scoreboard is in left-center field and features a line score and a panel that lists the name and number of the player at bat.

Two small souvenir stands are set up on the concourse, one each behind home plate and third base, while the large Pirates Clubhouse Store is next to the ticket office and close to the main entrance.

Practice Fields

All practice fields are located at Pirate City, which is five miles to the east of McKechnie Field at 1701 27th Street East.

There are four full-sized practice fields at the Pirate City complex and each one is named for a Pirates legend and Hall of Famer. In numerical order, fields 1 through 4 are named after Roberto Clemente, Pie Traynor, Honus Wagner and Willie Stargell.

To get to Pirate City from McKechnie Field, go west on 17th Avenue. Turn right onto US 41. At the first light, turn left onto 26th Avenue East. Follow it to 27th Street East and turn left. Go past Mixon Fruit Farms and the complex will be on the right, next to a public golf course called the River Run Golf Links, which is where you park.

Types of Seating
McKechnie Field seating diagram All fixed seats in the stadium are bucket-style. There are large sections of bleachers down each outfield line. The bleachers do not have seat backs and are made of hard plastic instead of aluminum.

Stadium seats: Sold as Box or Reserve.

Bleachers: Sections 15-20, 22 that are sold as Grandstand.

Berm: none

Notes about the seating

The Pirates dugout is on the first base side. To make sure you're on the home side of the stadium, buy your tickets in any even numbered section.

An interior aisle runs the length of the stadium's grandstand. Most Box seats are below the aisle, all Reserved and Grandstand seats are above it.

Seats do not have cup holders.

Handicap accessible seating is available on the aisle between sections 1-2, 9-10, 15-16.

The protective screen behind home plate extends from sections 1-6 and attaches to the facade of the press box. The netting is very thin so that it doesn't obstruct views.

Numerous picnic tables are on the grass field in the plaza behind the first base concessions.

Although the stadium has a wide open design, there are no dedicated standing room areas.

Sections and rows

Rows for sections with stadium seats below the aisle range as follows:
1 to 5 in sections 1-2; 1 to 6 in sections 3-4; 1 to 3 in sections 5-8; 1 to 2 in sections 9-10; 1 to 6 in sections 11-14; 1 to 5 in sections 15-16; 1 to 6 in sections 17-20 and 22

Rows for sections with stadium seats above the aisle range as follows:
7 to 22 in sections 1-4; 1 to 16 in sections 7-12

Rows for sections with bleacher seats range as follows:
1 to 16 in sections 15-20 and 22

Tickets

Sections 1-6 are sold as Infield Box, as are all seats in sections 7-14 that are below the interior aisle.

Infield Reserve seats are those in sections 7-12 that are above the interior aisle.

Outfield Box seats are those in sections 15-20 & 22 that are below the interior aisle.

Bleachers are sold as Grandstand and are the seats in sections 15-20 & 22 that are above the interior aisle.

Children 30 inches or taller require a ticket. The stadium policy also mentions that "children two years old or younger can receive complimentary admission."

Seats to avoid
Some seats in the covered portion of the grandstand have views that are partially obstructed by the poles that support the roofs which provide cover. Those sitting in the first row of seats in the three separate covered grandstands (that's row 7 in sections 1-4 and row 1 in sections 7-12) have to deal with a peripheral vision annoyance as fans walking on the cross aisle in front of them do so at only a little below eye level. Otherwise, there's not a bad seat in the house, although there's not really a comfortable one either. Bleachers aren't known for their comfort and the bucket-style seats that are used in place of contemporary stadium-style seating are too narrow.

Seats in the shade
The main grandstand is split into three sections and each has its own roof, making this a very shady ballpark (meant in a good way). The sun is above the first base grandstand so all of its Reserved seats (sections 8, 10, 12) are shaded. Rows 7 & up of Box seats in sections 1, 2 & 4 behind home plate are shaded, while shade is cast upon rows 12 & up in Box section 3. On the third base side of the park, rows 5 & up of Reserved seats in sections 7, 9 & 11 are shaded. By 1:30 or 2:30 (Daylight Saving Time) all covered seats are shaded in the sections just mentioned, with a sliver of sunlight making seat numbers 1-6 in section 7 an exception.

Note: The price you pay for guaranteed shade throughout an afternoon game is limited leg room in seats which are on an aluminum based portion of the grandstand. Leg room is normal below the cross aisle, where the flooring is concrete...and the sun generally makes its presence felt.

VIP seating
There's not much. McKechnie Field lacks any party decks and has just one suite, an at the far end of the press box (third base side) one that is more reminiscent of the sky boxes of yesteryear than the luxury suites with balcony seats that are today's norm. The single second-level suite in Bradenton has a capacity of 20 people, all of whom sit or stand within the confines of the suite that has a small outdoor patio to compliment its much bulkier indoor seating area.

Game Day
Gates open at 11 AM for day games and 5 PM for night games. The ticket office opens at 9 AM.

Food, drink and bag policy

Water bottles up to 24 ounces can be brought inside. Soft-sided coolers are permitted.

Outside food is prohibited.

Bags that are 16" x 16" x 8" or smaller can be brought into the ballpark.

Getting autographs
Before and during the game, players sign for fans that line the walkway alongside the bullpens, which are in the outfield corners next to each team's clubhouse (Pirates in right, visitors in left). The best spot for postgame autographs is the end of the grandstands - section 22 for Pirates players and section 19 for the visiting team.

Unique ballpark fare
Most concession stands are manned by local restaurants, so pizza, ice cream, pulled pork and cheese steaks have a local flavor. Pepsi is served at all stands and beer on tap is generally limited to Bud and Bud Light. The Pitt-Stop specializes in Pennsylvania beers, selling bottles from breweries founded or based in the Pirates' home state. In years past, it was where you could get an Iron City, Rolling Rock and Yuengling, although in 2011 only the Latrobe Brewing Co's pale lager (Rolling Rock) was available at the Pitt-Stop, which is behind the home plate grandstand.

2012 Pirates Spring Training Schedule (only home games at McKechnie Field are listed)
March	Day	Time	Visiting Team	TicketsNow
4	Sunday	1:05	Blue Jays	Tickets
6	Tuesday	1:05	Yankees	Tickets
7	Wednesday	1:05	Blue Jays	Tickets
10	Saturday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
12	Monday	1:05	Phillies	Tickets
16	Friday	1:05	Phillies	Tickets
17	Saturday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
21	Wednesday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
22	Thursday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
23	Friday	1:05	Tigers	Tickets
24	Saturday	1:05	Astros	Tickets
26	Monday	7:05	Orioles	Tickets
29	Thursday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
30	Friday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
31	Saturday	1:05	Orioles	Tickets
* Single game tickets go on sale Saturday, January 21. See the full 2012 Pirates Spring Training schedule

Ballpark Area Info
The area surrounding McKechnie Field is a mix of light industrial, public utility and civic buildings, plus some residences. A string of auto body shops are across the street from the ballpark, the Bradenton Kiwanis Complex behind left field, and a Public Works building behind that. A slew of small homes and a rundown apartment complex make up the residential portion. Aside from the venerable Popi's Place, a restaurant open only for breakfast and lunch, the only reason to be in this part of town is the ballgame. About a mile north of the ballpark is the mile-wide Manatee River. Downtown Bradenton resides along the river's southern bank while the city of Palmetto is reached by driving across the river on the Green (Ninth Street West) Bridge.

Travelers' notes

The closest Interstate, I-75, is more than 10 miles away.

The neighborhood that McKechnie Field resides in isn’t one of the nicer ones in Bradenton. It's not the type of place you want to hang out after the game.

Although no public tours are available, the Tropicana factory is nearby. Bradenton has been the home of Tropicana Orange Juice since 1949 and the company's juice plant, which is North America's largest and where all of Tropicana's production is done, is about 1½ miles from McKechnie Field.

Hotels close to McKechnie Field			Become a featured advertiser
Distance	Hotel	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
0.25 miles	Royal Motel	1526 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-746-3051
0.3	Blue Boy Motel	1839 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-748-6909
0.65	Siesta Inn & Suites	2303 1st St E	Bradenton, FL 34208	941-747-6465
1.2	Days Inn	3506 1st St W	Bradenton, FL 34208	941-746-1141
2.8	Holiday Inn Express	4450 47th St W	Bradenton, FL 34210	941-795-4633
4.2	Howard Johnson	6511 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34207	941-756-8399
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Restaurants close to McKechnie Field
Distance	Restaurant	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
0.1 miles	Popi's Place	818 17th Ave W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-746-7078
0.1	Fogartyville Cafe	800 17th Ave W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-741-9755
0.1	Ball Park Deli & Sub Shop	1720 9th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-749-0345
0.35	San Remo Pizza & Pasta	1914 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-749-0105
0.35	Taqueria y Tortilleria	2209 9th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-747-6061
0.5	Hot Rodd Cafe	1707 1st St	Bradenton, FL 34208	941-708-9590
0.55	J & J Bar-B-Que	2620 9th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-746-6683
0.6	Villa Sorrento Italian Cafe	2604 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-744-9272
0.6	McSwiggins Pub	1301 8th Ave W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-748-1625
0.65	Marios Italian Restaurant	2704 14th St W	Bradenton, FL 34205	941-744-1670
0.7	China City Express	810 1st St	Bradenton, FL 34208	941-798-9388
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Airports close to McKechnie Field
Distance	Airport		Airport Code
7.2 miles	Sarasota Bradenton International		SRQ
29.9	St. Petersburg-Clearwater International		PIE
34.2	Tampa International		TPA
81.2	Southwest Florida International (Fort Myers)		RSW
99.2	Orlando International		MCO

McKechnie Field in Bradenton
Contact Us With Any Questions About Pirates Spring Training

McKechnie Field

2012 Pirates Spring Training Schedule

Hotels close to McKechnie Field

Restaurants close to McKechnie Field

Airports close to McKechnie Field