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Schedule structure affects Pirates ticket prices in 2020

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Schedule structure affects Pirates ticket prices in 2020

The price of some Pirates season-ticket packages will go up next year, but it’s not what you probably think.

Price increases have more to do with the structure of the season than anything else, said Brian Warecki, the Pirates’ vice president of communications and broadcasting.

In 2020, the Pirates will actually have one more home game than they did this season because of the Little League World Series game in Williamsport, Pa., against the Chicago Cubs. There’s also an additional weekend series and two games against the Yankees in May that have affected the prices.

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The Pirates, like pretty much all pro sports teams, break games into tiers. The Yankees games are June 16-17, a Tuesday and Wednesday, and likely would’ve been priced on the lowest tier if they involved a team such as the Reds or Rockies.

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This upcoming season is actually most comparable to 2018 when it comes to the mix of games the Pirates are playing. That year, the Pirates played 42 weekend games and 38 during the week.

In 2020, they have 42 on the weekend and 36 during the week, plus the two Yankees games. (Keep in mind that the home opener — every year — is treated as its own separate event.)

This past season they had 39 on weekends and 40 during the week.

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If you look at actual price points, it does make sense. An infield grandstand ticket on an 81-game plan will cost $1,213 in 2020 compared to $1,332 in 2018. That ticket actually features a $48 drop in price from what it cost in 2019 ($1,261).

Meanwhile, a field-level box ticket will cost $3,146 in 2020, up from $3,083 in 2019. However, that same ticket cost $3,239 in 2018.

Jason Mackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG

First Published: September 19, 2019, 9:23 p.m.

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