Pirates Spring Training

Batting Practice Times
Day Games (1:05) Pirates: 10:15-11:15 Visitors: 11:15-12:15 Night Games (7:05) Pirates: 4:15-5:15 Visitors: 5:15-6:15

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Year Total Average

2008
2007
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2005
2004 83,169
81,967
79,542
68,562
73,233 5,198
4,940
4,971
4,897
4,577

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Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule

Hotels | Restaurants

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. Another alternative is to take the Baseball Bus shuttle run by the Manatee County Area Transit. To do so, park in the MCAT lot at the northwest corner of 9th Street West and 30th Avenue West. Shuttle service starts at 11:30 a.m. for day games and 5:30 p.m. for night games. Full details are available by calling 941-749-7116.
Cost: Varies, from $1.25 (shuttle) to $7 (Boys & Girls Club) to $5-8 (neighborhood)

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. 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 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 grandstands - the Pirates in right, visitors in left. The set-up is very fan accessible and allows for autograph opportunities during 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.

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.

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

Stadium seats: Sold as box or reserved.

Bleachers: Sections 16-20, 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

Seats to avoid
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 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 1-4 behind home plate are shaded. On the third base side of the park, rows 4 & up of reserved seats in sections 7, 9 & 11 are shaded.

VIP seating
Not in Bradenton. There's no suites or party decks.

Game Day
Gates open at 11 AM for day games and 5 PM for night games.

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 Philly cheese steaks have a local flavor. Pepsi is served at all stands and beer on tap is limited to Bud and Bud Light. The Pitt-Stop specializes in Pennsylvania beers, selling bottles from Iron City, Penn Brewery, Rolling Rock and Yuengling.

2009 Pirates Spring Training Schedule (only home games at McKechnie Field are listed)
February	Day	Time	Visiting Team	StubHub
25	Wednesday	1:05	Phillies	Tickets
27	Friday	1:05	Braves	Tickets
March	Day	Time	Visiting Team	StubHub
1	Sunday	1:05	Tigers	Tickets
2	Monday	1:05	Reds	Tickets
3	Tuesday	1:05	Netherlands (WBC)	Tickets
4	Wednesday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
6	Friday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
8	Sunday	1:05	Astros	Tickets
9	Monday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
12	Thursday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
14	Saturday	1:05	Yankees	Tickets
16	Monday	7:05	Rays	Tickets
18	Wednesday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
22	Sunday	1:05	Reds	Tickets
23	Monday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
27	Friday	7:05	Blue Jays	Tickets
28	Saturday	1:05	Phillies	Tickets
30	Monday	1:05	Reds	Tickets
April	Day	Time	Visiting Team	StubHub
1	Wednesday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
2	Thursday	1:05	Manatee CC	Tickets
3	Friday	1:05	Twins	Tickets
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 24. See the full 2009 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.

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.

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
0.7	Key West Subs	810 1st St	Bradenton, FL 34208	941-748-0252
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Hotels close to McKechnie Field
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	Rodeway Inn	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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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

2009 Pirates Spring Training Schedule

Restaurants close to McKechnie Field

Hotels close to McKechnie Field

Airports close to McKechnie Field