Upcoming games
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- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveTue, Jun 9, 2026 · 6:30 PM EDT
- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveWed, Jun 10, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveThu, Jun 11, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveFri, Jun 12, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveSat, Jun 13, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsChesapeake Baysox at Altoona CurveSun, Jun 14, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveTue, Jun 23, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveWed, Jun 24, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveThu, Jun 25, 2026 · 6:30 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveFri, Jun 26, 2026 · 6:00 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveSat, Jun 27, 2026 · 6:30 PM EDT
- Get ticketsReading Fightin Phils at Altoona CurveSun, Jun 28, 2026 · 1:00 PM EDT
Plan your trip
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Peoples Natural Gas Field fills early.
Getting there
Peoples Natural Gas Field sits on the east side of Altoona, Pennsylvania, at 1000 Park Avenue, immediately adjacent to Lakemont Park amusement park and the Leap-the-Dips roller coaster — the oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the world. Driving uses I-99 to the 17th Street exit or US-22 to Plank Road; the ballpark is roughly two miles east of downtown Altoona. There is no commuter rail, though Amtrak's Pennsylvanian (Pittsburgh to New York) stops at Altoona Station downtown daily. Team-affiliated surface lots ring the ballpark, with overflow at the adjacent Lakemont Park lots. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing on fireworks dates. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Park Avenue. Confirm bag and entry rules on the Curve's official site before going.
The neighborhood
The setting is genuinely distinctive — the ballpark shares a parcel with Lakemont Park, the small regional amusement park whose Leap-the-Dips wooden coaster (1902) is the oldest still-running coaster in the world and a National Historic Landmark. The Curve's brand and the ballpark's identity tie directly to the adjacent Skyliner wooden coaster, whose track is visible from the seating bowl. Downtown Altoona — a small Pennsylvania railroad town with the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the historic Horseshoe Curve viewing site west of the city (the engineering marvel of the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line, completed 1854, also a National Historic Landmark) — is about ten minutes west. The neighborhood reads as a small-city ballpark with a working amusement park as its on-site backdrop, an unusual pairing in MiLB.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Pre- and post-game stops in Altoona include Tom and Joe's (the classic downtown Altoona breakfast diner — the canonical pre-day-game stop), Marzoni's Brick Oven & Brewing (the regional brewpub in nearby Duncansville), and The Allegro on Plank Road — the Altoona Italian sit-down standby in business for decades. Texas Hot Dogs on 11th Avenue is the Altoona chili-dog institution. U.S. Hotel Tavern in nearby Hollidaysburg is the historic-tavern destination dinner option. On the ballpark site itself, Lakemont Park concessions operate when the amusement park is open, and several stands at the ballpark concourse round out the food options. Pre-game crowds at the closest bars build modestly on weekend home dates.
First-timer tips
Plan to arrive about 45 minutes to an hour before first pitch — parking flow at the surrounding lots is gentle. The Skyliner wooden coaster runs through the outfield backdrop and is the ballpark's defining visual — it's part of Lakemont Park rather than the team, but it shows up in every televised wide shot. The Curve are the Pittsburgh Pirates' Double-A affiliate (Eastern League) and the team name nods directly to the Horseshoe Curve railroad landmark west of the city. The ballpark has carried the Peoples Natural Gas Field name for over a decade under a long-running naming-rights agreement; before that it was Blair County Ballpark. Mobile-only tickets are the norm. Bag policy and gate-open times shift season to season; confirm on the Curve's site before going.
Best games to catch
Eastern League divisional matchups against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers affiliate) — the in-state Pennsylvania I-80 corridor rivalry — and the Akron RubberDucks (Guardians affiliate) are the most reliable above-average draws. Visits from the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) and the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals affiliate) round out the strongest in-state schedule. Any date when a top Pirates prospect or rehabbing major-leaguer is scheduled to play, plus fireworks Fridays and the team's railroad-themed promotional nights, peaks demand. The Curve publish their full promotional calendar on the team site; specifics vary year to year.
What to know
The ballpark opened in May 1999 as Blair County Ballpark and was renamed Peoples Natural Gas Field in 2011 under a long-running naming-rights agreement with the regional gas utility. The Altoona Curve — the Pittsburgh Pirates' Double-A affiliate (Eastern League) since the franchise's first season — take their name from the Horseshoe Curve, the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1854 engineering marvel on the main line west of Altoona that allowed trains to climb the Allegheny Front (now a National Historic Landmark). The ballpark's adjacency to Lakemont Park and the Leap-the-Dips coaster (1902, the oldest operating wooden coaster in the world, also a National Historic Landmark) makes the venue one of the most distinctive in MiLB — the Skyliner wooden coaster runs through the outfield backdrop. Capacity sits around 7,210. The franchise has produced a long line of Pirates major-leaguers, and the ballpark's regional identity is deeply tied to Altoona's railroad heritage.
Frequently asked questions
What time do gates open at Peoples Natural Gas Field?
Gates typically open about 60–90 minutes before first pitch, earlier for fireworks Fridays or major promotional dates. Exact gate-open times shift season to season — check the Curve's official site for the current schedule.
Who plays at Peoples Natural Gas Field?
The Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, play their home games at Peoples Natural Gas Field in the Eastern League. The team has been the Pirates' Double-A affiliate since the franchise's first season in 1999.
Is there really a roller coaster behind the ballpark?
Yes — Lakemont Park amusement park sits on the same parcel as the ballpark, and the Skyliner wooden coaster runs through the outfield backdrop. The Leap-the-Dips coaster (1902) on the same property is the oldest operating wooden coaster in the world and a National Historic Landmark.
Where can I park near Peoples Natural Gas Field?
Team-affiliated surface lots ring the ballpark, with overflow at the adjacent Lakemont Park lots off Park Avenue. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing on fireworks dates. Confirm current rates and availability before driving in.
Why are they called the Curve?
The Curve name references the Horseshoe Curve, the Pennsylvania Railroad's 1854 engineering marvel on the main line west of Altoona that allowed trains to climb the Allegheny Front. The Horseshoe Curve viewing area is a National Historic Landmark about ten minutes from the ballpark.
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