Cheapskate Pirates Failing Fans, Taxpayers: Study, PA Lawmakers

HARRISBURG, PA — Despite significant taxpayer investment when PNC Park was built, the Pirates have struck out when it comes to being competitive, two state lawmakers alleged after a scathing report on the team was issued Wednesday.

The state's Independent Fiscal Office released studies on the economic impact of the Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at the request of Republican representatives Tim Bonner of Butler County and Jim Blair of Blair County. Both lawmakers now are calling on the Bucs to spend more money to improve the team and to provide taxpayers who helped pay for the ballpark with a better return on their investment.

"It is past time for the Pirates to become more competitive," the two lawmakers contended in a jointly issued release.

"Pirates’ ownership has seen the value of the team explode to $1.32 billion according to Forbes Magazine. Revenue sharing among the teams and from television partners has greatly increased the Pirates’ profit margins. Yet, the Pirates’ payroll regularly ranks in the bottom five in baseball."

Even a slight uptick in annual victories could generate millions for the local economy, according to the report on the Pirates.

The study determined that if the team increased its annual win total on average by just three games, the team would generate an estimated additional $76 million in total fan spending. Of that amount, $31 million would occur outside of PNC Park and directly support the local economy.

The study noted the Pirates received $147 million in Allegheny County tax money and $75 million in state funding for construction of PNC Park, which opened in 2001. The Pirates organization contributed about $40 million.

In exchange for its investment, the public is entitled to economic benefits in their local economy, the two representative said.

In a formal response included in the report, the Pirates asserted that "focusing solely on Major League payroll is limiting because there are countless other investments that clubs make to develop a winning team.

"Moreover, the report acknowledges that there is a myriad of other factors that impact winning percentage, yet those factors are neither analyzed nor incorporated into the report."

However, as the study noted, the Pirates seldom have a winning team.

Over the past 30 years, the Pirates have had the worst record in the National League and the second worst record in all of baseball. They have only had four winning seasons in those 30 years. During this time, no team has spent less on free agency signings than the Pirates.

See the entire report here.