How to Get McKechnie Field Spring Training Info

The residents of Bradenton, Florida have enjoyed spring training baseball at McKechnie Field since 1923. The Pittsburgh Pirates spend their winters at McKechnie Field playing a month's worth of games in front of crowds of up to 6,000 people. You can make McKechnie Field part of a spring training tour of the Grapefruit League with the right info.

Instructions

    • 1

      Chat with ushers, vendors and volunteers from the Bradenton Boosters before spring training games at McKechnie Field. The Bradenton Booster Club is a local organization that volunteers to run the stadium during spring training. You can get info on area attractions and hidden gems during spring training from these volunteers.

    • 2

      Collect copies of the stadium's game day program "On Deck" to remember the spring training games you attended. This full color program features coupons for local businesses, info on the home and away teams and profiles of veteran players.

    • 3

      Relax during your trip to McKechnie Field and purchase grandstand seats hours before the first pitch. The Pirates have not sold out McKechnie Field in the past, which means that you can get reserved seats the morning of a home game.

    • 4

      Avoid the costs of parking at McKechnie Field by locating a spot in the neighborhoods that frame the stadium. These free spots are limited and you need to arrive about an hour before the first pitch to get close to the stadium.

    • 5

      Decrease your travel budget during Pirates spring training by checking out free practice starting in February. The major league club practices for free at fields in Pirates City until the first week of March and minor league players get ready throughout the month of March.

    • 6

      Settle down along the walkway between the bullpen and the clubhouse to get autographs. The Pirates players and coaches enter through the bullpen each game and meet with as many fans as their schedules allow. You can also spend time by the entrance to the covered batting cages prior to games to get signatures from young players.

    • 7

      Ensure that money spent on tickets and concessions at McKechnie Field goes to a good cause by attending charity exhibitions at the beginning of spring training. These games take place against area colleges and all-star teams to kick off spring training with proceeds going to an area organization.