The Pirates' on-field success this season "is also leading to success at the cash register," according to Sullivan & Schwarz of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Pirates Senior Dir of Communications Brian Warecki said that this week's series against the Cubs "brought out 94,018 people, a record for a three-game weekday series at the park." The 33,935 fans at Wednesday's game "also set a record for the highest attendance at a 12:35 p.m. start." The large crowds and a team that currently is 56-42 and in second place in the NL Central "have been an economic boon to vendors, restaurants and stores." Local merchandiser Pittsburgh Fan! store manager Michael Romano estimated that the store was selling 300% "more Pirates gear than in previous seasons." Romano: "It's the first time ever that Pirates are the priority. Last year, we saw a taste of what it could be like. Now, it seems more permanent as long as they don't fall apart." He added that in "previous seasons he would start selling Steelers merchandise in late summer as training camp started up." But for now, he will "be keeping Pirates jerseys front and center." Sullivan & Schwarz note the team's recent wins "have had one negative effect on the area: increased traffic." Pittsburgh police Lt. Michael Piasecki said that more officers "have had to respond for traffic control because of higher pre-game crowd estimates" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/26).
