PNC Park is often called the best ballpark in America. With that skyline view over the Allegheny River, you’d think it would be packed every single night. It isn’t. Honestly, the Pittsburgh Pirates attendance by game is one of the most unpredictable, frustrating, and fascinating rollercoasters in Major League Baseball.
The 2025 season just wrapped up, and the numbers are... well, they’re a bit of a gut punch if you're a fan of the Buccos.
While the park itself is a gem, the seats were mostly empty this past summer. The Pirates finished with a total home attendance of 1,525,025. That sounds like a big number until you realize it averages out to just 18,827 fans per game. Considering PNC Park holds over 38,000 people, the stadium was basically half-full on a good day. It’s a weird vibe when the "Best Ballpark" is mostly an echo chamber of "Sell the Team" chants and the smell of Primanti’s sandwiches.
The Highs and Lows: 2025 Attendance Breakdown
You can’t just look at the average and understand the market. Pittsburgh is a "event" city. People show up when there is a reason beyond just the baseball. In 2025, the Pirates had three sellouts. Only three.
The biggest crowd of the year didn't even happen because of a pennant race. It was the Mac Miller Bobblehead Day on July 19 against the Chicago White Sox. A total of 38,041 fans crammed into the North Shore to get a tiny plastic rapper. They stood in lines that wrapped across the Roberto Clemente Bridge hours before first pitch.
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Compare that to a random Tuesday night in May against the Marlins. You might see 10,000 people if the weather holds up. It’s a stark contrast.
What Drives the Per-Game Swings?
If you’re tracking the Pittsburgh Pirates attendance by game, you’ll notice a few recurring themes that dictate whether the gates are humming or ghost-town quiet:
- The "Skenes Effect": Paul Skenes is basically the only reason some people buy a ticket right now. When he pitched against the Guardians on April 19, 37,713 fans showed up. When he’s not on the mound? The numbers drop off a cliff.
- Promotional Hooks: Bobbleheads and fireworks are the lifeblood of the Pirates' business model. If there’s a Zambelli fireworks show after the game, you can bet on a 5,000 to 7,000 person bump in attendance.
- The Opponent: When the Phillies or the Cubs come to town, the "attendance" is often boosted by visiting fans. It’s a short drive from Philly, and Cubs fans travel everywhere.
- The Weather: Pittsburgh in April is unpredictable. A 40-degree rainy night will kill attendance faster than a 10-game losing streak.
Honestly, the 11.4% drop in attendance from 2024 to 2025 is telling. In 2024, the team averaged 21,239 fans. People were excited. They thought the rebuild was finally turning a corner. By 2025, that optimism soured. When the product on the field stays stagnant, the fans stay home. It’s that simple.
The Business of Empty Seats
There is a massive debate in the 412 area code about why the stands are empty. Owner Bob Nutting has famously said that payroll is a function of revenue. If fans don't show up, he doesn't spend.
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But fans argue the opposite. "Why would I spend $50 on a ticket and $15 on a beer to watch a team that won't invest in a power hitter?"
It’s a classic chicken-and-egg scenario. In 2025, the Pirates' payroll was roughly $69 million. That ranked them near the bottom of the league. Unsurprisingly, their attendance also ranked 14th out of 15 teams in the National League. Only the teams in temporary or crumbling stadiums (like the A's or Rays) performed worse in the AL/NL combined rankings.
Why the 2026 Outlook is Complicated
Looking ahead to 2026, the early word is that payroll isn't going up. Sources like Pittsburgh Baseball Now have suggested the budget might even shrink. If that happens, expect those per-game attendance numbers to keep sliding.
The team did play better at home last year, going 44-37 at PNC Park. They swept the Dodgers and the Phillies at home—games that actually saw decent crowds. But those "bright spots" aren't enough to sustain an 81-game home schedule.
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How to Find Real-Time Attendance Numbers
If you are a data nerd or just curious about how many people were at the game last night, here is the best way to find out:
- The Official Box Score: MLB.com and the MLB App are the gold standard. Scroll to the very bottom of any completed game's box score. It will list "Attendance" right next to the game duration and weather.
- Baseball-Reference: This is the best place for historical context. You can see how a Monday night game in 2025 compared to a Monday night in 1992.
- Local Beat Reporters: Follow guys like Jason Mackey or Alex Stumpf on social media. They usually tweet the official gate count around the 7th inning.
The reality is that Pittsburgh is a championship-starved city that loves its teams but hates feeling like a "farm system" for the rest of the league. Until the Pirates string together more than a few "bobblehead nights" of success, the Pittsburgh Pirates attendance by game will likely continue to be a story of what could have been.
If you're planning a trip to PNC Park in 2026, keep an eye on the promotional schedule. If you want the "real" Pittsburgh experience with a packed house, aim for a Saturday night fireworks game or a weekend series against a divisional rival. If you just want a quiet night with the best view in sports, a Tuesday night in September is your best bet. You’ll practically have the North Shore to yourself.
To get the most value out of your next visit, check the Pirates' official website for "Value Days" or "Family Four-Packs," which usually run during low-attendance weekday games. This is often the cheapest way to get into the lower bowl without paying premium prices. Additionally, keep tabs on the pitching rotation; if you can catch a Paul Skenes start on a weeknight, you'll get the high-energy atmosphere without the "sold out" headaches of a weekend giveaway. Moving forward, the trend suggests that buying tickets on the secondary market just hours before first pitch for non-promotional games will continue to yield the best prices for fans.