PNC Field went through a major renovation project that helped it become one of the gems of the minor leagues.
If you visited PNC Field before the 2013 International League season, and weren’t thrilled with your experience, it’s time to visit again. While it’s common for ballparks to make changes every few years, PNC Field received the mother of all renovations in 2012 and it’s safe to say you won’t recognize the “old” ballpark at all.
Speaking of that old park, it opened in 1989 and was called Lackawanna County Stadium through the 2006 season. The park had a giant, 1980s stadium feel in the vast seating bowl and dark, closed-off concourses below. More than $40 million later, the new and much-improved PNC Field offers one of the best experiences in the International League, if not Minor League Baseball.
Gone are the empty upper deck of seats and dark, dingy concourses. The renovation project was so extensive that the home club played its entire 2012 campaign as a travel team. Known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees between 2007 and 2011, the club temporarily rebranded itself the Empire State Yankees for its 2012 season. When PNC opened in 2013, the club took the name of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders after a naming contest.
PNC Field Photos
PNC Field went through a major renovation project that helped it become one of the gems of the minor leagues.
Fans can enjoy a natural-looking backdrop beyond the ballpark's outfield fence.
There are plenty of parking spaces surrounding PNC Field, giving you just a short walk to the main gates.
A large standing-room deck above the bullpens is one of the appealing areas in the park.
Loaded hot dogs are just one of the options available for hungry baseball fans at PNC Field.
If you visited PNC Field before its renovation, you won't recognize it now.
If you enjoy shade, grab a spot high on the grass berm in right field.
The kids play area features an assortment of games, including inflatable attractions.
If you scour the berm areas after the gates open, you may find a baseball hit during BP.
The autograph-hunting scene at PNC Field can be lively, particularly when a notable big leaguer is on a rehab stint.
Grass berms are a good choice if you're visiting PNC Field with children.
A standing-room spot above left field is the perfect area to enjoy a meal or a cold beverage.
