FOX 8 to Televise Pirates-Curve Exhibition Game on March 30

CURVE, Pa. - With an increased demand for tickets and a vast interest in the first exhibition game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Altoona Curve in nearly 13 years, the Curve and Fox 8 (WWCP-TV) are proud to announce that the game will be televised locally to residents in Altoona and its surrounding regions on March 30.  The game can be found on Channel 8 on Atlantic Broadband, DirecTV, Comcast and DISH Network.

The meeting between the parent club and its affiliate is the first since a meeting on May 15, 2000 when the Curve bested the Pirates, 8-5 in front of 7,346 fans.  As the game quickly approaches at the end of this month, the Curve are expecting a capacity-crowd for the marquee event at Peoples Natural Gas Field. 

"Having been sold out of seats since early December and with our standing room tickets nearly exhausted, we're thrilled that our partners at Fox 8 have agreed to televise the game," said Curve General Manager Rob Egan.  "We know Frank Quitoni and his experienced staff will put on a great show for the viewers of this once-in-a-generation event."

Pregame coverage for the game will begin at 1:30 p.m. with first pitch in the contest scheduled for 2 p.m.   The 30-minute pregame show will feature interviews with many of the former Curve players that will be taking the field in Altoona for the first time since they were promoted in their rise to the big leagues.

"All our employees are proud to broadcast this event," said Fox 8 General Manager Frank Quitoni, "as well as to showcase the wonderful baseball facility and the spirit and high quality of baseball the Altoona Curve brings to our region."

Play-by-play for the game will be provided by Curve broadcaster Mike Passanisi, who is entering his fourth season in Curve, Pa. and his seventh season behind the mic overall.  Passanisi will be joined in the booth by former Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Stan Belinda, who pitched for the Buccos from 1989 to 1993 before he was traded to Kansas City.  Belinda, a native of Huntingdon, Pa.,  spent 12 seasons in the big leagues from 1989-2000 and appeared in 585 career games while compiling a 41-37 record to go with 79 saves.  

Standing-room only tickets are all that remain for the Pirates-Curve Exhibition game.  Fans interested in purchasing standing room tickets can do so by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting AltoonaCurve.com or by stopping by the box office at Peoples Natural Gas Field during normal business hours. 

-CURVE-