PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Baseball fans, the wait is almost over. The Pittsburgh Pirates will begin the season at PNC Park at 1:35 p.m. Thursday.

In all the excitement, the home opener will present some parking predicaments for everyday commuters.

There are plenty of spots up for grabs on the North Shore, but Thursday will be a different story.

With the Pirates’ home opener kicking off in the afternoon, most of the lots on the North Shore, owned by ALCO, will be off limits to people heading to work.

“Parking tomorrow on the North Shore will be very busy,” said Ralph Reetz, of ALCO Parking. “It will be closed to the daily commuter parking, we will open the lots at 9:30 [a.m.] for our baseball fans.”

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• Opening Day Traffic Information
• Parking Maps

“They should not be closed for the people that work downtown, the truly loyal employees that come to work every single day,” said Ann Kowatch, a commuter.

So, if you can’t park in the spots on the North Shore, what are your alternatives? ALCO recommends public transportation, also the lots in the Strip District or over at the old Civic Arena site.

“It’s going to be a huge hassle, a huge hassle, and it’s very hard for us who have to be down here to work,” said Julie Nauer, a commuter. “So, it’s a mess.”

Another option is the Carnegie Science Center lot. All-day parking will be available at special rates.

It will be $10 for cars entering before 9:30 a.m. and $12 for the rest of the day.

Of course, you can always try to squeeze your way into a downtown garage, but they will no doubt fill up fast.

ALCO estimates that about a thousand daily commuters will be forced from the North Shore to other locations.

“It’s always hard,” said Reetz. “They have to remember that tomorrow is a special day and it’s difficult, but the rest of the year, it’s a great bargain and a convenient place to park.”

No matter which option you go with, the best advice, get there early.

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