The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday — a day before single-game tickets go on sale — that there will be new start times for night games this season.
Evening home games will now start at 6:40 p.m., except for Saturday games before the All-Star break, which will begin at 4:05 p.m. After the All-Star break, Saturday games will start at 6:40 p.m. The new start times are in reaction to feedback from season-ticket holders, who expressed their appreciation for the earlier start times for games in April, May and September last season.
The Pirates started night games at 6:35 p.m. last season in March, April and May before switching to 7:05 starts for June, July and August, and then moved back to 6:35 in September.
There is another exception: The Aug. 17 game against Seattle will begin at 1:05 p.m., to avoid a potential scheduling conflict with a Steelers preseason game on the North Shore.
The Pirates’ schedule also includes 12 mid-week day games, which will start at 12:35 p.m.
Sunday games are scheduled to start at 1:35 p.m.
The first homestand of the season reflects the new start times: The Pirates open their home schedule against the Baltimore Orioles at 4:12 p.m. Friday, April 5 at PNC Park, a start time that has become a new home opener tradition as a nod to the city’s 412 area code. They host the Orioles at 4:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday, followed by a two-game visit by the Detroit Tigers with games at 6:40 p.m. Monday and 12:35 p.m. Tuesday.
All game dates and times are subject to change.
