PNC Bank is tapping into an organic fan movement at PNC Park in Pittsburgh by serving up limited-edition ice cream (traffic) cones to Pittsburgh Pirates fans on select game days this season.
Created in partnership with AOR Arnold, the promotion pays tribute to the now famous “Hoist the Cone” rallying cry, which originated from a misprinted shirt reading “Hoist the Cone” instead of “Hoist the Colors.” Pirates fans embraced the unexpected slogan, and the orange traffic cone has become a recognizable symbol of Pittsburgh Pirates team spirit and local pride since.
With real traffic cones recently disappearing from city streets as fans hunted for gear to hoist at games, PNC stepped in to give the hometown crowd a safer, smarter, and far tastier way to join the celebration.
The activation brings PNC’s “Brilliantly Boring” brand platform to life in an unexpected way: as traffic cones began disappearing from Pittsburgh streets, longtime Pirates and PNC Park partner PNC — and a known champion of avoiding unnecessary risks — stepped in with a safer, smarter and far tastier way for fans to hoist the cone.
The collectible cone holders will be available inside PNC Park on August 16, September 6, and September 20, 2026, free with every waffle cone purchase, while supplies last.
CREDITS ARNOLD Sean McBride, Chief Creative Officer Val Bettini, Chief Client Officer Sarah Taylor, Managing Director James Bray, Executive Creative Director Kelly Nichols, VP, Creative Director Patrick Harrington, VP, Creative Director Amy Nagy, Creative Director, PR Carissa Mak, Associate Creative Director Laura Allen, SVP, Marketing Director Sydney Southern, Marketing Director Molly Whear, Senior Marketing Manager Lucia Corso, VP, Strategy Director: Ryan Vinnicombe, VP, Strategy Director Patrick Driscoll, VP, Executive Producer Jim Spadafora, Executive Print Producer Kerry Lowe, Director, Project Management Elyssa Ahern, Director, Business Affairs Sammy Ouansa, Business Affairs Associate
PNC Jenn Garbach, Chief Marketing Officer Dresdyn Hefferen, SVP, Director of Brand Marketing & Paid Media Amy Farrell, SVP, Group Marketing Manager Megan Gilson, SVP, Client and Community Relations Director Molly Sapienza, SVP & Group Head, Corporate Sponsorships Sara Benzino, VP, Marketing Manager Sr. Kelsey Peart, VP, Regional Marketing Olivia Lammel, Communications Director Dana Good, VP Regional Communications Prick Boston, Corporate Sponsorships Lead
PIRATES Andy Goebel, VP, Corporate Partnerships Katie Shockey, Director, Corporate Partnerships Activation Terry Rodgers, Sr. Director of Communications and Content Sterling McLean, Director, Content & Production Harrison Barden, Team Photographer Marcelo Velazquez, General Manager (Aramark) – PNC Park
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