Pirates tout new enhancements to PNC Park to improve fan experience

The Pittsburgh Pirates are rolling out new enhancements to PNC Park, from a bigger LED scoreboard and better sound system to a speedier fan entry screening, in an effort to improve the fan experience.

“Obviously, we start with the ‘Best Ballpark in America’ with PNC Park,” Pirates president Travis Williams told AT&T SportsNet during Thursday’s spring game against the Boston Red Sox, “but it’s 20-plus years old and it needs to evolve and it needs to get better over time.”

The most obvious change is the new scoreboard and fascia ribbon boards that ring around the upper deck to provide better graphics. They will be officially unveiled at the “What’s New at PNC Park” event April 4.

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“Not only does it get bigger because we took the static ad signs off the sides and made that all one big video board but what’s going to be most impressive to the fans is the clarity and crispness of the color,” Williams said. “It gives us the opportunity between that, the LED rings that have been replaced and the new control room, we’re actually able to bring that at-home experience into the ballpark.

“So our fans get a chance to enjoy the Statcast graphics you see at home, you get to see them on the screen, whether it’s showing different pitches and pitch styles or launch angles or spray charts, a lot of different features we’re going to be able to bring. When it comes to pumping up the fans, their favorite rally videos all are going to be even better on the new screen.”

Also returning by popular demand is the out-of-town scoreboard at the base of the Clemente Wall in right field. The Pirates had displayed advertisements on the video screen last season.

The best ballpark in America keeps getting better.

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Williams also touted the Evolv technology that was tested last season to improve the entry process at every gate, describing the artificial intelligence-powered sensors as “basically a walk-through magnetometer.”

“You don’t have to take your keys and your wallets out of your pocket and put them through the slot and walk through and wait until it beeps or doesn’t beep,” Williams said. “This allows you to walk through in groups side by side with one another. It’s still the same safety measures. It detects anything and everything. People should still feel confident and comfortable that when they get through it that there’s nothing bad that’s going to happen to them but at the same time it gives them the ability to walk in quickly, get their tickets scanned and walk up to the concourse and enjoy the experience.”

That will continue with the addition of walk-through markets on the first and third base sides of the main concourse. The Pirates replaced a security office in right field to add a market and will have multiple walk-through beer markets.

“To be able to work on those enhancements, to be able to bring a better fan experience in the outfield, the river walk, foul pole to foul pole, between the food and the kids areas and the history we’ve sprinkled in throughout, all those things were terrific,” Williams said. “We’re trying to do the same thing with the main concourse this year.”