PNC PARK Pirates will reduce ticket prices in response to weak attendance

The Bucs will cut ticket prices for nearly 30 percent of PNC Park's seats.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates, responding to yearly attendance decreases since PNC Park opened in 2001, will cut ticket prices next season for nearly 30 percent of the ballpark's 37,898 seats.
The Pirates are cutting prices for outfield reserved seats, some left-field bleacher seats and upper-deck seats in right and left field. A section of outfield seats now called outfield boxes will also cost less than before.
The upper-deck seats that previously cost $10 will be cut $1, meaning that more than 6,500 seats will be priced at $9. Some upper-deck seats already sold for that price. The price cuts affect about 10,600 seats.
Discount
The Pirates also are offering $3 off every seat for full-season ticket holders, meaning that every full-season ticket will cost at least $243 less than last season. Also, partial-season ticket holders will be offered a $1 per seat reduction for the first time.
"It's critical we work toward growing our season-ticket base," Pirates managing general partner Kevin McClatchy said.
The Pirates, who have had 11 consecutive losing seasons, have seen attendance fall from a club-record 2,436,139 in 2001 to 1,784,993 in 2002 to 1,636,751 this year -- or less than they drew in three of their final four seasons in Three Rivers Stadium. They finished 26th among the 30 big league clubs in attendance despite playing in a ballpark often called one of the majors' best.
The Pirates also announced that their 2004 home schedule will begin Monday, April 5 against the Phillies and conclude Sunday, Sept. 26 against the Reds.
The Cardinals and Reds will visit PNC Park the most, appearing 10 times each, while the Brewers and Cubs will play nine games. Houston, the Pirates' other NL Central rival, will visit for seven games.
Ten teams visit once for three-game series: the Angels and Mariners for first-ever interleague appearances in Pittsburgh, plus the Mets, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Giants, Marlins, Padres, Dodgers and Phillies.
Phillies
Philadelphia, once one of Pittsburgh's biggest rivals when the teams played in the NL East, won't return after playing in the Pirates' first home series April 5-8. April 6 is an off day in case the home opener is rained out.
In a scheduling quirk, NL East champion Atlanta will visit for a four-game series July 26-29, while the Montreal Expos will play only two games July 19-20. It is the first time in Pirates history an NL club has been scheduled for so few games in Pittsburgh.
The Mets played only two games in Pittsburgh in 2002, but rain caused one late-season game to be canceled.