Baseball fans can look forward to three new, custom-developed food items at PNC Park this season, all of which will make their debut when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the New York Yankees at their home opener on April 4.
Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the stadium’s food provider, is swinging for the fences with sweet and savory dishes that pay homage to the city’s Eastern European roots while also arguably taking ticket holders’ tastebuds to crazy new heights.
First at bat: The Chipped Ham Empanada ($13.95). Served as a basket of two, these Latin American-ish turnovers are a fried pastry version of every Pittsburgher’s favorite picnic food as a kid and maybe also as an adult — Isaly’s chipped chopped ham barbecue. The filling inside the flaky dough includes chipped ham, cheddar cheese and, in a nod to Heinz and the upcoming Picklesburgh fest on July 11-13, tart and briny pickles.
Rounding the base at second is a basket of golf-ball sized Polish Cannonball ($14.95). Equally reminiscent of grandma and the favorite side dish served at nearly every Lenten fish fry, this haluski-like dish is made with buttery egg noodles, kielbasa, shredded cabbage, bacon and cheddar cheese. It’s served with a creamy herb sauce that’s perfect for dipping.
And if you still have room for dessert? On third, there’s The Fried Almond Torte ($13.99). A super-sweet, gourmet take on the humble Twinkie, it features a batter-dipped funnel cake that comes topped with contrasting drizzles of raspberry sauce and white icing and a sprinkling of crunchy, sugary burnt almonds.
Fans can find all three treats at The Cannonball Stand in Section 146.
“MLB Opening Day and the start of the baseball season is always one of the most exciting times on our calendar,” said Alison Birdwell, president and CEO of Aramark Sports + Entertainment, in a statement. “As the guest experience is our top priority, this past offseason we took a deep dive into analyzing consumer purchasing behaviors to ensure we have the best idea of what our fans want. Based on the insights we found, we created innovative menu offerings that cater to our fans while also introducing fresh, exciting and dynamic flavors. We’re thrilled to kick off the 2025 MLB season with the launch of these culinary creations.”
The Pirates’ partnership with Aramark is the food company’s longest, reaching all the way back to 1973, when Willie Stargell led the National League in both home runs (44) and RBI (119), and the Buccos finished third in the National League East with a record of 80–82.
Other food-related novelties include a 98-ounce, collectable plastic baseball bat filled with popcorn and adorned with the Pirates’ logo; an adjustable, foam Cotton Candy Mask shaped like the Pirate Parrot; and a baseball-shaped Fastball Souvenir Cup for frozen cocktails or beverages on ice.
Correction, posted 3/17/25: An earlier version of this article had the incorrect number of Willie Stargell’s National League home runs in 1973: It was 44.
First Published: March 17, 2025, 9:33 p.m.
Updated: March 18, 2025, 12:09 p.m.
