CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Published on March 30, 2001
Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in each Prospectus constituting part of each Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form S-16 Registration Statement (Registration Nos. 2-62247 and 2-65638) and in each Prospectus constituting part of each Form S-3 Registration Statement or Post-Effective Amendment (Registration Nos. 33-3027, 33-16674, 33-19035, 33-40196 and 33-58741) and in each Form S-8 Registration Statement or Post-Effective Amendment (Registration Nos. 33-21506, 33-40199, 33-37548, 33-28064, 33-15639, 33-61986, 33-51121, 333-26361, 333-32393, 333-84561 and 333-52862) of Ball Corporation of our report dated January 24, 2001 relating to the financial statements, which appear in this Form 10-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Denver, Colorado March 30, 2001