What the Pirates can do to improve the experience
I’ve been a Pirates fan for as long as I remember. My family has had some involvement with the team from 1984 until last year so when I see things backwards I sometime take it personally when I see something backwards and want to shout “wtf are you doing!”. As we sat watching the final game of the regular season I started to think of what could be done to make the fan experience better. Most are based off my observations as a fan for once and not someone in “the family” as a certain person on the staff likes to say.
1) Adopt the hockey courtesy rule of “No walking to/from your seat will the game is in play”. This is one of my biggest peeves with attending Pirate games is that people can not sit still and then they find it necessary to block your view while they look for your seat.
2) Save the planet and quit giving away so many free things. I’m a fan of free swag but since the team was destined to repeat the previous 13 years of losing (which they did btw making it 14 years) the promotions group had 75 promo nights out of 81 possible dates. Promotions are great but now it’s to the point of desperation. I’m a HUGE advocate for Roberto Clemente but he can’t be the “go to” dead guy when you need a filler.
3) Make an area that’s kids free. Those of us who want to watch the game and not be bombarded with cartoon figures, cotton candy and antsy kids (see #1) would like a break. I want a hotdog, a beer and my seat.
4) You’ve upgraded the food, now how about the beverages. $10.50 for a crabcake? $6.75 for a piece of burnt fish on a bun? $7 for a Miller Lite? If you’re going to gouge us by raising the normal cost of these items by 300% then how about upgrading the beer. You started with serving Dogfish Head BUT the ladies pouring it are uneducated on how to serve. $5 for a 3/4 cup of foam is not cool. There are multiple microbreweries around the Western PA area, so why not support the local guy!
5) Tuck in your shirt and smile. Every game I’ve gone to, and I’m not exaggerating when I say EVERY, the people working consessions are miserable, moody and dressed like slobs. I know it’s not the greatest job in the world but someone was willing to give you money for this so try to look presentable. Last game I went to the guy was so miserable that when he told me they were out of Pepsi he didn’t feel like going to the station next to him that HAD Pepsi. Oh and then the Sierra Mist we ordered was all seltzer water and we got attitude when we wanted it replaced.
6) Take lessons from the Pens on how to treat your ticketholders. This is more of a side note since it’s not a game day thing. Take a few days and see what the Pens do for their ticket holders. Friends of mine that have Pirates season tickets are amazed at the loyalty that the Pens have to their fans and they care they show. Maybe it’s a volume number for the Pirates, who knows but I will say that there is a reason for the loyalty of hockey fans in this town, the team isn’t afraid to step up.
