The Pirates worked diligently during the offseason to make enhancements to the fan experience at PNC Park, and on Wednesday club officials took members of the media on a tour of the facility so they could view the improvements firsthand.

Getting a look at the new gathering spaces in the outfield that feature open sightlines to the field was exciting. Parents and youngsters alike will no doubt love the three kids' play areas. What’s more, displays that celebrate Pirates history and that of Pittsburgh’s Negro Leagues teams -- the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays -- are being added and will be expanded during the coming months.

Pirates president Travis Williams referred to the overall enhancements at PNC Park -- which is entering its 22nd season -- as “a large amount of work in a short period of time.” Emphasizing everything good about Pittsburgh and adding something for everyone were among the key concepts used to determine what changes would be made.

That included the new food offerings.

“We wanted to make sure there was a real tie-in to Pittsburgh with the food. So we brought consultant John Sergi on board with us,” Williams said. “He has worked with other teams and other facilities throughout the country making sure there is an authentic connection between the food and the fans in those communities.”

How did Sergi approach his assignment with the Bucs?

“My job was to come together with the Pirates and Aramark and try and take the vision for the ballpark and say, ‘If we express that in food, what might it look like?’” Sergi said. “Where we landed was that we had to design food not just to sell it, but to connect it to the people. We thought we would do that by focusing on the foods we know people love at a baseball game, but do them in a way that made them relevant to what is a very vibrant food scene here in Pittsburgh. We worked with Aramark chefs and local partners, and [we] did a new take on those foods and did them in a way that will only be available here.”

Three local establishments -- Coop de Ville and Smallman Street Deli in the Strip District, and Station in Bloomfield -- took part.

Among the food items available to sample were:

• Ranch Burger: inspired by Station and includes a double patty, pub cheese, homemade dill pickles, crispy lettuce and ranch dressing. Station owner Curtis Gamble said that a veggie burger with button mushrooms, onions and roasted garlic and another burger with BBQ spice, homemade steak sauce, smokey bleu cheese, pickled cabbage and bacon will also be available at PNC Park.

“The goal on all of them was to make sure they eat clean and they’re not overwhelming and heavy,” Gamble said. “They’re all really great and really thoughtful burgers with a lot of great toppings on them.”

• Reuben Dog: inspired by Smallman Street Deli and includes locally manufactured corned beef, thousand island dressing, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on a dog with a lot of “snap.” Smallman Street Deli owner Jeff Cohen, a longtime Pirates season ticket holder, said a special Chicago Dog and Chili Cheese Dog will also be offered at the ballpark.

• Pimento Fried Chicken Sandwich: inspired by Coop de Ville and includes sweet tea-brined chicken, pimento cheese, hot honey and ranch slaw on a Martin’s roll. Other items from Coop de Ville chefs will include a traditional fried chicken sandwich with shredded lettuce, homemade pickles, and mayo, plus chicken tenders and fries.

• Adobo Beef Nachos: includes corn tortilla chips, queso sauce, black beans, jalapeños and cilantro lime cream salsa. These will be available at the new Nachorita stand in left field.

“What was neat about this whole process is that everyone really did their homework,” Cohen said. “They did a lot of tasting and a lot of testing. They went through a lot of different scenarios to make sure they were doing it right. The Pirates are moving in a good direction offering items that are unique and upscale. Being a local company and being partners with the Pirates is tremendous.”

Brian Hediger, general manager for Aramark at PNC Park, added: “We’re also going to be delivering food in a new way. All of the new food areas are going to have kiosk ordering. So folks will place their orders on a kiosk and then their number will be displayed on a screen for pickup when their food is ready. We’re really trying to streamline the process to keep people engaged in the food and engaged in the game.”