ALTOONA CURVE
Peoples Natural Gas Field
Altoona is a Pennsylvania railroad city — the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, three miles west, is the engineering marvel that made America's westward expansion by rail possible. The Curve's name is a deliberate homage. Peoples Natural Gas Field sits in the Appalachian ridge-and-valley landscape of central Pennsylvania, backed by the Allegheny Mountains, developing Pittsburgh Pirates prospects in a city whose identity is entirely defined by the railroad era.
PHOTO: Greenstrat · Public Domain
Architecture & History
Peoples Natural Gas Field was designed by the L.D. Astorino Companies and opened April 10, 1999. The team is named for Horseshoe Curve — the 1854 engineering achievement 3 miles west of downtown Altoona that allowed the Pennsylvania Railroad to ascend the Allegheny Front and made transcontinental rail travel possible. The curve's 220-degree arc through the mountains was so strategically important that Nazi Germany targeted it for sabotage in World War II.
Altoona was built entirely by the Pennsylvania Railroad — the PRR headquarters, maintenance shops, and workforce housing that constituted the city's entire reason for being. The Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops in Altoona employed 15,000 workers at their peak. The railroad identity is total and deliberate: the team's name, logo, and visual identity all reference the Horseshoe Curve.
The park sits in the bowl of the Allegheny Mountain valley with the ridge-and-valley Appalachian landscape as backdrop in every direction. The sense of geographic drama — mountains visible from the upper deck — is distinctive among Double-A parks in the Northeast.
Build specs
- ARCHITECT
- L.D. Astorino Companies
- CAPACITY
- 7,210
- OPENED
- April 10, 1999
- ELEVATION
- 1,175 ft — Allegheny Mountain valley
- NAME ORIGIN
- Horseshoe Curve NHL — 1854 Pennsylvania Railroad engineering landmark, 3 miles west
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Horseshoe Curve View
Outfield concourse
Views toward the Allegheny Mountains and the famous Horseshoe Curve railroad landmark, a National Historic Landmark.
Railroad Heritage Elements
Throughout
Design elements throughout the park reference Altoona's deep railroad history as a Pennsylvania Railroad hub.
Names & History
1999–2007
Blair County Ballpark
Original name at opening.
2007–present
Peoples Natural Gas Field
Naming rights acquired by Peoples Natural Gas.
Also known as
The Food
Railroader Cheesesteak
Pennsylvania's cheesesteak tradition extends beyond Philadelphia — Altoona has its own steak sandwich heritage.
Railroader Cheesesteak
Cheesesteak stand — main concourse
Pennsylvania's cheesesteak tradition extends beyond Philadelphia — Altoona, as a Pennsylvania railroad city, has its own steak sandwich heritage. Thinly sliced ribeye, grilled onions and peppers, American cheese or Cheez Whiz on a hoagie roll.
Pierogi with Sour Cream
Pierogi stand
The Polish and Slovak immigrant workers who built Altoona's railroad infrastructure brought their pierogi tradition. Potato-and-cheese or sauerkraut pierogi, pan-fried, with sour cream.
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Primanti Bros. stand
Primanti Brothers, the Pittsburgh institution since 1933, brings their signature sandwich — meat, cheese, coleslaw, and french fries all inside the bread.
Hershey's Ice Cream
Ice cream stands
Hershey, Pennsylvania — 50 miles east — is the chocolate capital of America. Hershey's Ice Cream is available throughout the park.
Curve Dog with Mustard and Kraut
Hot dog stands
Standard ballpark hot dog elevated with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut — the central Pennsylvania working-class condiment tradition.
The Beer
Peoples Natural Gas Field has a central Pennsylvania craft presence. Tait Farm and Bullfrog Brewery represent the regional craft tradition.
Bullfrog Brewery Porter
Bullfrog Brewery · Williamsport, PA
Bullfrog Brewery, the central Pennsylvania craft veteran from Williamsport, has a park presence at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Their porter and seasonal ales reflect central Pennsylvania's craft growth.
East End Brewing Big Hop IPA
East End Brewing · Pittsburgh, PA
East End Brewing, Pittsburgh's most established craft brewery, represents the city the Pirates call home. Big Hop IPA and Monkey Boy Hefeweizen are the most available options.
Penn Brewery Penn Pilsner
Penn Brewery · Pittsburgh, PA
Penn Brewery, Pennsylvania's oldest craft brewery since 1986, brews German-style lagers and ales that fit the state's German immigrant heritage. Penn Pilsner is their most accessible option.
Yuengling Lager
D.G. Yuengling & Son · Pottsville, PA
Yuengling, from Pottsville, PA — America's oldest brewery since 1829 — is the Pennsylvania default. Lager is the correct order. Available everywhere.
Sun & Weather Guide
southeast — Altoona · Allegheny Mountain valley · 1,175 ft elevation
Allegheny Mountain valley — cool summer evenings
Evening games at Peoples Natural Gas Field with the Allegheny Mountains as backdrop are the park's defining experience. Central Pennsylvania mountain valley evenings cool quickly after sunset.
Southeast-oriented — morning sun fades by afternoon
The southeast orientation means morning sun hits the 3B side directly. By mid-afternoon the grandstand provides more shade. Summer days in the Allegheny valley are warm but rarely extreme.
Mountain valley shoulder seasons — bring layers
Spring and fall games at Altoona are cool-to-cold. The mountain valley elevation (1,175 ft) and Appalachian weather patterns make layering essential April-May and September.
Appalachian variability — check forecast
Altoona sits in the ridge-and-valley Appalachian zone. Weather can change quickly — afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Check the forecast.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Visit Horseshoe Curve before the game. The curve is 3 miles west — a 10-minute drive — and is one of the most significant engineering landmarks in American history. Active freight trains still use it daily.
Yuengling
Order a Yuengling Lager. America's oldest brewery is 70 miles east in Pottsville, PA. You are in Pennsylvania. The correct beer is Yuengling. This is not a complicated decision.
Primanti Brothers
The Primanti Brothers sandwich — coleslaw and french fries inside the bread with the meat — is Pittsburgh's most iconic food and it's at the park. Order one before you decide it sounds wrong.
Parking Reality
Peoples Natural Gas Field has ample parking adjacent to the stadium. Altoona is a mid-size Pennsylvania city with easy car access. Parking is not a problem.
Best Value Seat
Third base lower grandstand — evening shade develops from the grandstand overhang, mountain views to the southwest, and well-priced Double-A tickets. Best overall value at the park.
Pilgrim Stops Near Altoona
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
A 1916 steam locomotive still climbing the original Appalachian grade.
Plan your pilgrimage
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