Pirates success leads to rise in ticket prices on secondary market, Steelers still king of Pittsburgh

By Dan Groob, TiqIQ

Despite a relatively successful beginning to last season, the Pirates were not able to sustain their level of play through the second half and ended up finishing fourth place in the NL Central. Exactly halfway through this year however, the Pirates currently hold baseball’s best record at 51-30 and show no signs of slowing down having won their last nine games in a row.

This year, the Pirates could easily continue rolling into the All-Star break. Three of Pittsburgh’s next four series are against teams below .500 with negative run differentials, including two of the very worst teams in baseball. Pittsburgh will open the month with a three game set at home at PNC Park against the Philadelphia Phillies, before hitting the road for a three game weekend series against the lowly Chicago Cubs. Then it’s back home for a slightly more difficult interleague set against the Oakland Athletics, before a day off and a weekend visit from the Mets prior to heading off into the All-Star break.

According to TiqIQ, the average Pittsburgh Pirates home ticket price has jumped significantly this season, from $34 dollars in 2012 to $49 dollars so far in 2013. With that said however, the Pirates still won’t be catching the Steelers for Pittsburgh ticket price premium supremacy any time soon. The Steelers home average ticket price for 2013 currently checks in at a whopping $262 dollars, a ridiculous 435% premium over Pirates tickets.

Pirates fans should take advantage of these bargains and get in while the getting’s good. As the Pirates success runs deeper into the season, it can be expected that ticket prices will continue to rise at PNC Park. If the Pirates continue to win ballgames down the stretch and clinch their first postseason berth since Barry Bonds last donned the black and gold in 1992, the average $34 dollar ticket of 2012 might begin to seem like a distant memory to the Pittsburgh faithful.

• 2012 Average: $34
• 2013 Average: $49
• Steelers Home Avg: $262 (435% more than Pirates tickets)
• Pirates tickets up 44% this from last year’s average