Grounds Crew Working Hard To PNC Park Ready For Opening Day
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – After a brutally cold and snowy winter, Opening Day for the Pittsburgh Pirates has finally arrived.
The Pirates will take on the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park, but there's plenty that went into getting the field ready for today's game.
"These folks are not only responsible for PNC Park, but they manage and work closely with our Bradenton crew and our Dominican crew. So, these guys are top notch and they know their business," PNC Park General Manager Dennis DaPra said.
It takes a small army of trained professionals to grow green grass in Pittsburgh in March. A sub-air system underground is a big part of the reason of how it's done.
"That can either apply moisture or pull moisture from the surface. So, depending on the temperatures, that thing can be working through December through January," DaPra said.
Taking care of the field for 81 home games, plus more in the playoffs is a full-time job.
"There's aerification, there's application, there's the sub-air work. there's the cutting, the edging. Cut the grass, cut the grass twice a day on the prime months of the year. So, it's just a fraction of a piece of grass that's coming off the top, but it is cut sometimes twice a day believe it or not," DaPra said.
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