Watch CBS News

Pirates Fans Line Up For Chance To Score Opening Day Tickets

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers reported to Bradenton, Florida today. In two days, they will have their first workout as the team readies for the 2016 season.

This morning on the North Shore, fans braved the cold for a chance to buy the remaining tickets for Opening Day.

All 81 games went on sale at 10 a.m., but everybody is talking about what happens on April 3 - Opening Day.

One Pirates fan hopes she can mark that off her bucket list.

"I always wanted to come to a home opener, and I worked so I couldn't. So, now I'm retired, so it's on my bucket list to come to a home opener," Suzanne Dickinson said.

She toughed it out with about 100 other Pirates faithful at PNC Park Wednesday morning, including Frank and Karen Smith who were first in line.

"My wife and I will get whatever we can get apiece here for Opening Day, right now," Frank said.

The Pirates handed out T-shirts to those who waited the longest . Then, they delivered donuts to help take an edge off the sub-freezing temperatures.

"The beginning of the season to see who is playing. It's a big crowd. Everybody's into it, so it's a great time," Jason Smith said.

Tickets were also available online. Many seats were already gone when the ticket windows opened. Season ticket holders and those with 20-game mini-packs had first opportunity to buy on Tuesday.

"I'm trying to get an Opening Day ticket, but I couldn't get one yesterday even a standing room, and I got on immediately," Gary Dziki said.

So, he rolled the dice to see if he'd get lucky in person -- just like Kenneth Summers who says Opening Day is a tradition.

"It's a special day. I've been doing it since Three Rivers Stadium since I was a kid so it's a tradition for real," he said.

As for Suzanne? She can officially cross Opening Day off her bucket list.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.