Pittsburgh Pirates

The ballpark’s current tenant, the Pittsburgh Pirates, have called McKechnie Field home since 1969. The Pirates and Bradenton celebrated their 40^th anniversary together during the 2008 spring training season, which included an agreement between the City of Bradenton and the Pirates to continue this partnership for another 30 years.

Renovations prior to the 2008 spring training season included a new visitor’s clubhouse, a new press lounge and lights. McKechnie Field hosted its first night game in history on March 19.

Improvements also included a renovation of Pirate City, the team’s southern headquarters, with new offices, player dormitories and a fifth practice field.

This marked McKechnie Field’s second major renovation. In 1993, the Spanish mission-style ballpark was renovated with careful attention to preserving the intimate, old -time atmosphere that led USA Today to dub it the “Fenway Park” of spring training stadiums. 

McKechnie Field is located at 1611 Ninth Street West near bustling downtown Bradenton, home to the South Florida Museum, Manatee Players Theatre, ArtCenter Manatee and more. The ballpark sits directly east of the nationally-acclaimed Village of the Arts, a growing neighborhood of galleries and studios where artists and artisans of various types create and sell their wares.

Members of the Grapefruit League and the Pittsburgh Pirates have experienced escalating attendance each year since 2003 thanks to the cozy, close-to-the-action atmosphere McKechnie Field offers. About one-third of the 6,602 seats are covered by an overhang, but every seat provides an open view to the action.

Ticket prices at McKechnie Field have perennially been one of the lowest in the Grapefruit League. For regularly priced games, grandstand tickets can be had for $9 while premium” box seats cost $16.

McKechnie Field is named after Pittsburgh native, former Bradenton resident and Hall of Fame manager Bill McKechnie.