Pittsburgh (KDKA)- For the first time since 2002, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be raising ticket prices.

The Pirates had gone the longest stretch of any team in baseball without raising prices. In fact, the Pirates average ticket price of $15.30 in 2011 was the lowest in Major League Baseball.

Starting in 2012, the 2012 average ticket price will be $16.11. This new price for 2012 would have placed the Pirates as the third lowest average ticket price in baseball in 2011, more than 40-percent below the league average.

In the nine years since the Pirates last raised ticket prices, the average ticket price in baseball according to Team Marketing Report has increased more than 40-percent.

“We compete in a much different economic landscape than the one that existed nine years ago and we
are committed to making the investments required to continue to build a winning team,” said Pirates
President Frank Coonelly. “The great support from our fans this season has allowed us to increase our
investments in the Club. We will continue to reinvest our resources in our team, as we did with the recent
acquisitions made at the trade deadline, our recent draft signings and the extension of Jose Tabata.”

Even with this increase, the Pirates remain well below other teams in the Central Division. According to the 2011 Team Marketing Report research:
o Cardinals average ticket price in 2011 was over 100-percent higher;
o Brewers was 44-percent higher;
o Reds was 34-percent higher than the Pirates.