McKechnie Makeover a Boon for Some Local Businesses

BRADENTON -- The $10 million renovation of McKechnie Field in Bradenton will give the Pittsburgh Pirates an upgraded spring training facility, but it's also helping the bottom line of some local businesses. Ron Allen's NDC Construction of Bradenton is the construction manager for the project and Fawley Bryant Architects, who have offices in downtown Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, are the designers. In all, 12 Bradenton businesses are among the 39 to draw work from the renovation, with more than 80 percent of the businesses and total workers involved in the project reportedly coming from the Tampa Bay area.

In addition to the Bradenton-based firms, 11 of the businesses are from Sarasota County, while 5 are based in Pinellas and 4 are located in Hillsborough County. 4 additional Florida companies bring the total of in-state businesses used to 36. The total number of workers on the project to date is 224 according to a release by the Pirates organization. In-state workers account for 95 percent of the total project work force, with 87 percent coming from the Tampa Bay Region, and 63 percent coming from businesses in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Wm. F. McDonough Plumbing of Sarasota handled the extensive plumbing needs of the renovation, while Duncan Seawall of Sarasota constructed the boardwalk that will provide fans with outfield seating for the first time. All Steel Consultants of Palmetto was contracted for structural steel.

Originally built in 1923, McKechnie Field has been the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969. Pirates’ Minor-League affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, have played there each summer since 2010. McKechnie Field is the oldest spring training ballpark in the country. Single game tickets for Pirates Spring Training go on sale on Saturday, January 26 at 10:00am. Tickets will be available at the McKechnie Field Ticket Office, online through www.Pirates.com, or by phone by calling 877-893-2827.