Thanks, Pittsburgh

[riflearm2]

Your city is old and grimy as hell, your best hotel is a middle-of-the-pack hotel surpassed by a dozen others in real cities, your infrastructure getting in and out of the city on narrow two lanes is atrocious, pepperoni rolls and pierogis are overrated, and your baseball team's premium seat dinner/food is the worst I have seen in 15 MLB parks, as is the in-game entertainment. But you made me feel like a king being around all of the peasants who live there (and I may come back in a week if Taylor Swift would rather spend time with me there instead of in LA later).

But the one thing I can appreciate about your time-passed, filthy, bleak future city is the red carpet that you rolled out for me. Upon being escorted into the hotel lobby, Francisco Alvarez, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer were all down there to say hi. After the hotel security came up to try and stop us talking, Mets security came over to correct them and tell them that I am an exception to their request. I haven't confirmed it, but I believe I heard that the hotel's GM is friends with the mayor of the city, and they made sure that they had some fireworks for my evening enjoyment that they would set off in an area where I could see it from my suite's bed. So thanks for the effort.

 

[SamSwimmer]

Food quality at the Home Plate Club is wildly inconsistent. There have been games where they had great options & other times I’ve talked to clients we’ve given tickets to who’ve said it was disappointing. It could have been that I was going up just for weekend games but for what those tickets cost, you should get quality every game.

You’ve been in way more ballparks than I have, @riflearm2 - the skyline view from those seats, where would put it with other parks? As much as a congested hell that city is, it does make for a great backdrop.

 

[GreenDuke]

Despite the current score I would think the Mets would pay your fare to leave town and stop attending games.

 

[Archetype XLIV]

Best part about reading this is knowing you left.

 

[herdfan06]

Best part about reading this is knowing you left.

 

[riflearm2]

Best part about reading this is knowing you left.

I understand. Now, you can feel a little more comfortable when your wife tells you that she is going to the grocery store at 10 pm and then disappears for three hours like she did when I was in town.

 

[riflearm2]

You’ve been in way more ballparks than I have, @riflearm2 - the skyline view from those seats, where would put it with other parks? As much as a congested hell that city is, it does make for a great backdrop.

The only stadiums that I haven't been to are Mets, Yankees, Detroit, and Milwaukee.

The buildings across the river in Pittsburgh make for a beautiful backdrop. I think the view would have been better with higher seats so that the water and more of the Roberto Clemente bride could be seen. Minnesota has a very similar view - not as pretty, but a similar backdrop. Their outfield stands are built right over each other, so makes for a very intimate setting. Detroit's is similar, too.

Many people say Pittsburgh has the best view/setting, but I can't put them ahead of San Francisco. I'd probably put Pittsburgh sixth or seventh behind San Fran, Wrigley, Boston, Baltimore, San Diego, and Minnesota.

Pittsburgh's view would be top three, but they really lack much else. San Fran just has so many other cool aspects to it, especially if you're familiar with it and know what to see/do and when.

 

[GeauxHerd]

Pittsburgh is the armpit of America.

 

[-CarlHungus-]

You went too far with the pepperoni roll hate.

PNC is a great park though - agree the upper deck seats have best views. That SF park looks beautiful, would like to see it one day.

I may be in minority here but I just don’t care about the food at the ball park. If I want good food I’ll find it in the city. I’m just gonna do beers and peanuts or a dog at the stadium (exception is Hot Doug’s at Wrigley. The dude won a James Beard award for his unique hot dog shop then retired. Still a little stand in outfield as I recall at Wrigley though it’s a shell of the glorious Mecca that the restaurant was).

 

[ThunderCat98]

The only stadiums that I haven't been to are Mets, Yankees, Detroit, and Milwaukee.

Wait. You say you're on a first-name basis with Mets ownership and half the roster, yet you've never been to their stadium? One would think they'd personally invite you to a game. Weird.

 

[herdfan06]

Wait. You say you're on a first-name basis with Mets ownership and half the roster, yet you've never been to their stadium? One would think they'd personally invite you to a game. Weird.

Maybe he meant this month.

 

[Archetype XLIV]

I take back what I said. The lowly Pirates just beat the Mets again and took the series.

The only thing worse than the Pittsburgh Pirates is the OP. Sad.

 

[riflearm2]

If I want good food I’ll find it in the city.

Not in Pittsburgh you won't.

I may be in minority here but I just don’t care about the food at the ball park.

If you experience the food in the club at Wrigley, in Atlanta (get the Delta seats!), and some other parks, you will change your mind. And I am talking more about eating before the game than during the actual game. Sure, hot dogs and normal baseball staples during the game is a given. But places like Atlanta will have not just hog dogs and vegan dogs for you to serve yourself, but they also have sausage while grilling onions and peppers with them to make the normal staples gourmet.

Having a gourmet meal with literally dozens of options right before you take your seats is great. Then, during the game, you can take a few minutes in between innings to grab a million dessert options/candy or more real food to take back to your seat. Those stadiums will also, in the right seats, serve you food (free, unlimited). I don't need gourmet food while watching a movie. Popcorn is fine. But having quality meals you can order at your seat makes the experience a lot better.

Food quality at the Home Plate Club is wildly inconsistent. There have been games where they had great options & other times I’ve talked to clients we’ve given tickets to who’ve said it was disappointing.

The options are limited compared to many other parks. But to somebody who isn't used to that, I can see why they'd say it was great, because going anywhere where you have shrimp, brisket at a carving station, salmon, chicken, salads, pasta, macarons and other desserts seems awesome at first. It's like the first time you went to Old Country Buffet. It seemed amazing. But then when you actually taste the quality of the food, it wasn't so nice anymore.

At those other stadiums, the options are far greater, the presentation and where you eat is far better, the service is far better, and the quality of the food is immensely better.

Wait. You say you're on a first-name basis with Mets ownership and half the roster, yet you've never been to their stadium? One would think they'd personally invite you to a game. Weird.

I won't go until they get to a World Series. I'll go to their games this year in Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, DC, and Baltimore, but I won't go to Citi until they get to a World Series.

I take back what I said. The lowly Pirates just beat the Mets again and took the series.

The only thing worse than the Pittsburgh Pirates is the OP. Sad.

The "lowly" and "worse" Pirates are in first place in their division.

 

[Archetype XLIV]

The "lowly" and "worse" Pirates are in first place in their division.

First time watching the Pirates, huh?

 

[muthed]

Wait. You say you're on a first-name basis with Mets ownership and half the roster, yet you've never been to their stadium? One would think they'd personally invite you to a game. Weird.

Yes, and on top of that, he's never been to Yankee Stadium. You're not a true baseball fan if you haven't been to the Bronx. Maybe he could check with Jimmy Fallon and get a seat with him and Lorne.

 

[riflearm2]

Yes, and on top of that, he's never been to Yankee Stadium. You're not a true baseball fan if you haven't been to the Bronx. Maybe he could check with Jimmy Fallon and get a seat with him and Lorne.

I will never go to the home stadium of the Yankees.

And I have met Fallon once and Michaels multiple times.