The Pittsburgh Pirates organization is giving fans even more reason to be distracted from the game with a scoreboard video display twice the size of the previous one and an informational display ribbon that runs along the entire upper deck from foul pole to foul pole.

	Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette A worker uses and "extension" to reach those tough spots at PNC Park as technicians work on the new message board. The Pirates home opener is Monday. Click photo for larger image.

These are two additions in the line-up of new features the Pirates front office gave the news media a preview of yesterday at PNC Park, where opening day is set for Monday. The Pirates play the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:35 p.m.

The Clemente Bridge will close to vehicles at 10 a.m. that day, and construction of the light rail system has Reedsdale Street closed from Art Rooney Avenue to Mazeroski Way.

In addition to food favorites that are famous in other ballparks, such as crab cakes in Baltimore and brisket in Kansas City, the club is introducing the Bucco Taco, a bowlful of taco stuffings on a bed of Fritos, and new drinks in orange and strawberry fruit freezes. Twenty-one microbrews will be on tap in the exclusive Club 3000, which replaces the former cigar bar Monte Cristo on the right field side just above ground level.

Of the gamut of food and beverages, most prices have stayed the same, said Brian Warecki, a spokesman for the Pirates.

To its product line, the team has added a red team jersey, decorated bats, a jazzy selection of souvenir baseballs and more selections for girls and women, such as hats, capped-sleeve tees and pink items.

"Ladies apparel is hot right now in the industry" of sports merchandise, said Steve Musciano, general manager of Aramark, the ballpark concessionaire.

The new video display will offer the Pirates more flexibility of use, splitting into windows to display more variety of information. And, for the first time, the scoreboard will record the pitch count, a statistic many fans requested.

The new information ribbon is like the LED [light emitting diode] rings that circle arenas.

Kevin McClatchy, the Pirates CEO, said changes such as these "keep fresh" the experience of being at PNC Park.

The club has updated the high-top tables in the general concession areas and tripled the size of the Jolly Roger flag that is raised after every Pirate win. Mr. Warecki said management was inspired by announcer Greg Brown's signature line after a win -- "Raise the Jolly Roger."

As for what's staying the same, the pierogies will still race, T-shirts and hot dogs will still be propelled into the crowd and fans will continue to vote for tunes with their lungs.