PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates on Wednesday revealed some details for the 2019 edition of PiratesFest, which will take place on Jan. 26 at PNC Park.
PiratesFest will be open to the general public from noon to 5 p.m. ET, and admission is free for all fans. The club will host autograph sessions in the Jim Beam Left Field Lounge throughout the day, and all proceeds from those ticket sales will benefit Pittsburgh-area first responders.
The Pirates and Pirates Charities previously donated $50,000 to three organizations following the Oct. 27 shooting in which 11 people were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue. To honor their memory and the police who responded to the tragedy, the Pirates decided to donate all of the autograph proceeds from PiratesFest to the City of Pittsburgh's Fraternal Order of Police "Injured Officers Fund" and the local "Public Safety Support Trust Fund."
There will be other opportunities during PiratesFest for fans to donate and show their support for local first responders, according to the club.
"As we continue to pray for those we lost in this indescribable tragedy, we must also continue to honor their memory by committing to a kinder, more-inclusive and more-loving future," Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. "Our community should take great pride in the fact that Pittsburgh is once again leading the country by demonstrating to our nation how we can stand together as one.
"All too often, professional athletes are hailed as heroes, but we know that the real heroes among us are our community's first responders, men and women who dedicate their lives to helping others, no matter what the situation. Raising additional funds at PiratesFest is yet another way in which the Pirates, and our fans, can continue to honor, support and express our gratitude to our first responders."
PiratesFest will also include free autograph sessions for kids, alumni autograph sessions in the PNC Park press conference room, national anthem auditions, question-and-answer sessions in the Lexus Club, photo opportunities in the Pirates dugout, games on the Pittsburgh Baseball Club level and opportunities to meet Pirates players and alumni.
There will be exclusive events, including autograph sessions and photo opportunities, for season ticket holders from 9 a.m. until noon. The Pirates will release more information regarding autograph session ticket sales and schedules at pirates.com/piratesfest.