 Home  Cactus League  Grapefruit League  Schedules  Guide  Contact Us |
| Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training | Area Info - Bradenton |
| Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule | Hotels | Restaurants |
LECOM Park(formerly McKechnie Field) Spring Training home of the Pirates since 1969 Ballpark address: Opened: 1923 |
 |
LECOM Park 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
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.
Take the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ($1.25 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 had been the only stadium in the Grapefruit League without an official parking lot but that changed in 2014, when space was created behind left field following the demolition of a building that had long housed the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. In its place now rests a smallish grass field filled with parking spaces, which is designated as "outfield parking." While the price is highest there and spaces are quite limited, you can pick and choose from plenty of places to park elsewhere thanks to local businesses and homeowners. Among the closest to the ballpark options is the lot that fronts the Renaissance on 9th community center, and there are plenty of other choices on 9th Street and 13th and 17th Avenues, which are the three main roads that border LECOM Park.
Cost: Varies, from $10 (stadium lot) to $5-$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. In 2013, a faux wood boardwalk was placed directly behind the outfield fence, adding bleachers (in left field) and a bar (in right-center) to the amenities mix. The $10 million spent on upgrades also rid the grandstand of its bucket-style seats, replacing them with the flip-up kind long found just about everywhere else. The Pirates' spring 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. Mr. McKechnie lead the Pirates to a World Series victory in 1925 and won 1,896 regular season games in his 25-year managerial career.
Fast Facts
Types of Seating
All fixed seats in the grandstands are now stadium-style, as the not so nice bucket-style seats that had long been present were removed after the 2012 season. There are large sections of bleachers down each outfield line. Those bleachers do not have seat backs and are made of hard plastic instead of aluminum. The bleachers on the outfield boardwalk are the opposite: they're aluminum and have backs.
Notes about the seating
Sections and rows
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
7 to 22 in sections 1-4; 1 to 16 in sections 7-12; 8 to 16 in sections 13-14
1 to 16 in sections 15-20 and 22; 1 to 10 in sections 21, 23 and 25
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. The grandstand's lower level end sections (Baseline Box 19 & 22) can be a pain in the neck, as you really have to crane your neck towards the infield to watch the game from well down the outfield line seats.
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.
The new Left Field Bleachers are also covered but they face the sun. So the first seven rows in each of the three sections can be sun-in-your-eyes sunny on a clear day. The top three rows generally remain shaded by the canopy above them, so if you want to sit in the shade in the outfield make sure to buy your seats in rows 8 to 10 of sections 21, 23 & 25.
VIP seating
LECOM Park 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. New for 2013 is the Left Field Party Deck, a two-tiered group-only area that's between the grandstand and left field foul pole. Forty people are needed to reserve either the upper or lower deck. Both party decks are covered and catered.
Game Day
Gates open at 11 AM for day games and 4 PM for night games. The ticket office opens at 9 AM.
Food, drink and bag policy
Getting autographs
This is a good (visiting team) to great (Pirates) ballpark to get autographs inside of. The black wrought iron fence on the concourse in the right field corner is a great spot to get signatures from Pirates players, especially before and during the game (once players have been removed). The fence is next to the Pittsburgh clubhouse, so every player and coach will walk by the fans gathered there, with many stopping to sign. The visiting team's clubhouse is down the left field line, just past the end of the grandstand and behind the Left Field Party Deck. The concrete ramp alongside the grandstand and the beginning of the wooden boardwalk behind the lower party deck are where to station yourself for the best opportunities. You don't want to be too far up the boardwalk, as it becomes elevated and thus out of the reach from players. 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
Until 2013, most concession stands were manned by local restaurants, so pizza, ice cream, pulled pork and cheese steaks had a local flavor. That's no longer the case, but all are still available. Most concession stands sell the standard stuff -- you'll have no problem finding peanuts and cracker jacks -- with the best assortment of meal food sold behind home plate while the carnival fare is found in center field (head there for corn dogs, kettle corn and funnel cakes). Pepsi is served at all stands and the variety of beer available on tap has greatly expanded thanks to the new big bar on the boardwalk in right-center and the also new plaza bar at the far end of the first base side concourse. Bud and Bud Light can be found on draft just about everywhere, while Hawaii-brewed beers (Kona) are featured on the boardwalk bar and a few Yuengling offerings are the main draw at the Plaza Bar. The cart next to it is one of a few places where you'll find Pittsburgh's Iron City beer being sold (albeit in cans). One of those places is the Pitt-Stop, and fans stopping by there (underneath the home plate grandstand) will find a large selection of bottled and canned beer. Lastly, even after the game's over you can drink for a little while longer, as either the bar on the boardwalk or the plaza bar (they alternate) remains open postgame for at least a half-hour.
2024 Pirates Spring Training Schedule(only home games at LECOM Park are listed) |
| February/March | ||||||
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 25 Orioles 1:05 Tickets |
26 | 27 Braves 1:05 Tickets |
28 Tigers 1:05 Tickets |
29 | 1 Rays 1:05 Tickets |
2 |
| 3 Orioles 1:05 Tickets |
4 | 5 Blue Jays 1:05 Tickets |
6 | 7 | 8 Twins 1:05 Tickets |
9 |
| 10 Phillies 1:05 Tickets |
11 | 12 Braves 1:05 Tickets |
13 | 14 Orioles 6:05 Tickets |
15 | 16 Tigers 4:05 Tickets |
| 17 Rays 1:05 Tickets |
18 | 19 | 20 | 21 Blue Jays 6:05 Tickets |
22 | 23 Red Sox 1:05 Tickets |
| 24 Yankees 1:05 Tickets |
25 Blue Jays 1:05 Tickets |
|||||
* Single game tickets go on sale Friday, January 19. Links in calendar are to TicketNetwork inventory.
See the full 2024 Pirates Spring Training schedule
Ballpark Area Info
The area surrounding LECOM Park 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 and the S. Earl Crawley Public Works building is behind the small left field-based parking lot. A slew of small homes and apartments make up the residential portion. Long noted for being aside the venerable Popi's Place, a restaurant open only for breakfast and lunch until it closed in February 2014, the ballpark and the ballgame are the main reason to be in this part of town, which is in the process of being redeveloped into an arts and entertainment district. 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
 Hotels close to LECOM Park |
 Become a featured advertiser |
|||
| Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.5 miles | Blue Boy Motel | 1839 Tamiami Trail | Bradenton, FL 34205 | 941-748-6909 |
| 1.4 | Courtyard by Marriott | 100 Riverfront Dr W | Bradenton, FL 34205 | 941-747-3727 |
| 1.6 | Days Inn | 3506 1st St W | Bradenton, FL 34208 | 941-746-1141 |
| 3.5 | Holiday Inn Express | 4450 47th St W | Bradenton, FL 34210 | 941-795-4633 |
| 4.3 | M Star Hotel | 6511 14th St W | Bradenton, FL 34207 | 941-756-8399 |
| 4.3 | Emerald Cove Motel | 3311 US 41 N | Palmetto, FL 34221 | 941-723-2451 |
| 4.4 | Super 8 | 6516 14th St W | Bradenton, FL 34207 | 941-462-2369 |
| 4.6 | Quality Inn | 6727 14th St W | Bradenton, FL 34207 | 520-257-4521 |
| 6.6 | Best Western Plus | 648 67th St Circle E | Bradenton, FL 34208 | 941-757-5555 |
 List your hotel |
||||
 Restaurants close to LECOM Park |
||||
| Distance | Restaurant | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.1 miles | 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 |
| 0.4 | Motorworks Brewing | 1014 9th St W | Bradenton, FL 34205 | 941-896-9892 |
| 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 |
| 0.7 | China City Express | 810 1st St | Bradenton, FL 34208 | 941-708-9388 |
| 1.7 | Joey D’s Pizzeria | 4304 14th St W | Bradenton, FL 34205 | 941-753-8900 |
| List your restaurant or bar |
||||
 Airports close to LECOM Park |
||||
| 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 | ||
