Photo Credit
Researched and compiled
by Carrie Birdsong
Address: 100 Art Rooney Avenue
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Owner: Sports & Exhibition Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Operator:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. University of Pittsburgh
Executive Suites: 129
Capacity: 68,400 (2015 – present)(1)
Former Capacity:
1. 65,500 (2011 – 2014)(2)
2. 65,050 (2006 – 2010)(3)
3. 64,450 (2001 – 2006)(4)
Record Attendance: 73,117 (Taylor Swift, The Eras
Operator:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. University of Pittsburgh
Executive Suites: 129
Capacity: 68,400 (2015 – present)(1)
Former Capacity:
1. 65,500 (2011 – 2014)(2)
2. 65,050 (2006 – 2010)(3)
3. 64,450 (2001 – 2006)(4)
Record Attendance: 73,117 (Taylor Swift, The Eras
Tour, June 17th, 2023)(5)
Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass (2009 – Present)(6)
Construction
Broke Ground: June 18th, 1999
Opened: August 18th, 2001
Renovated: 2007
Expanded: 2015
Construction Cost: US$281 million ($484 million
Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass (2009 – Present)(6)
Construction
Broke Ground: June 18th, 1999
Opened: August 18th, 2001
Renovated: 2007
Expanded: 2015
Construction Cost: US$281 million ($484 million
in 2023 dollars)(7)
Architect:
Architect:
1. Populous (then Bortles Sport Architecture)
2. WTW Architects(8)
Project Manager: NW Getz & Associates, Inc.(9)
Structural Engineer: Bliss & Nyitray, Inc.
Services Manager: M-E Engineers, Inc.(8)
General Contractor: Hunt Construction Group/
2. WTW Architects(8)
Project Manager: NW Getz & Associates, Inc.(9)
Structural Engineer: Bliss & Nyitray, Inc.
Services Manager: M-E Engineers, Inc.(8)
General Contractor: Hunt Construction Group/
Mascaro Construction
Company, LP(8)
Tenants:
1. Pittsburgh Panthers (NCAA) 2001 – Present
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 2001 – Present
Acrisure Stadium, formerly (and still colloquially) known as Heinz Field, is a football stadium located in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Pittsburgh Panthers of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The stadium opened in 2001 as Heinz Field, following the controlled implosion of the teams’ previous home Three Rivers Stadium. In 2021, the owners of the Heinz name, now owned by Kraft Heinz declined to renew the stadium’s naming rights. The City of Pittsburgh green-lit Acrisure’s bid to purchase the rights in 2022.
Funded in conjunction with PNC Park and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the 281 million dollar (equivalent to 483.52 million dollars in 2023) stadium stands along the Ohio River, on the North Side of Pittsburgh in the North Shore neighborhood. The stadium was designed with the city of Pittsburgh’s history in steel production in mind, which led to the inclusion of 12,000 tons of steel into construction(10). Ground for the stadium was broken in June 1999, and the first football game was hosted in September 2001. The stadium’s natural grass surface has been criticized throughout its history, but Steelers owners have kept the grass after lobbying from players and coaches. The 68,400-seat stadium has sold out from most Steelers home games, a streak that dates to 1972. A collection of Steelers and Panthers memorabilia is in the Great Hall.
The stadium has hosted two outdoor hockey games: the 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, and the 2017 NHL Stadium Series game between the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The venue has also hosted numerous concerts; on June 17th, 2023, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour performance was attended by 73,117 people, the highest-ticketed event in Pittsburgh history. (5)
History
Planning and Funding
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates shared Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000. After discussions over the Pirates building a full-time baseball park, a proposal was made to renovate Three Rivers Stadium into a full-time football facility(11). Although the Steelers’ owners disliked the idea, the proposal was used as a “fallback position” that would be used if a "discussion’ for a new stadium failed(12). The Steelers’ owners said failing to build a new stadium would hurt the franchise’s chances of signing players who might sign with other teams, such as the other three in the Steelers division, who had all recently built new football-only stadiums(13). In June 2001, the H.J. Heinz Company purchased the naming rights to the stadium(14). Per the deal, Heinz would pay the Steelers a total of 57 million dollars through 2021, the “57” being an intentional reference to Heinz 57(15). Despite Heinz later announcing its acquisition of Kraft Foods Group to form Kraft Heinz Company in 2015, the stadium’s name was retained. (16)
Originally, a sales tax increase was proposed to fund three projects: Heinz Field, PNC Park, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. After rejecting this proposal in a 1997 referendum known as the “Regional Renaissance Initiative”, the city developed an alternate funding proposal Plan B(17). Similarly controversial, the proposal was labeled Scam B by opponents(18). The Steeler’s pledge toward the new stadium was criticized for being too little, even after being raised from $50 million to $76.5 million(11)(19). Other local government members criticized the 281 million dollars of public money allocated for Plan B(11)(20). One Allegheny Regional Asset District board member called the use of tax dollars “corporate welfare”(21). The plan, totaling $809 million, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board on July 9th, 1998, with $233 million allotted for Heinz Field(21)(22). Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh to stay in the city until at least 2031(18). The total cost of Heinz Field was $281 million. (23)
HOK Sport designed the stadium(24). Hok Sport’s project manager for the project, Melinda Lehman, said that the Rooney family asked for the stadium’s design to “acknowledge the history of Pittsburgh and also bring in an element of looking forward, this is where Pittsburgh is going”(25). To accomplish this, HOK Sport used steel structurally and externally(25). The stone used in Acrisure Stadium’s design is artificial, to decrease cost(25). The glass used in the stadium’s design, Lehman said, “The glass is a more modern building element, which ties into a lot of the building in [Downtown] Pittsburgh and gives great views of the surrounding areas.”(25) The Steelers and Panthers have their own locker rooms, which differ in size based on the number of players on each team is permitted to dress for each game. The visitor facilities are modeled after the home locker rooms’ design(26). As with its predecessor, Acrisure Stadium’s culinary service provider is Aramark; over 400 eateries are located throughout the stadium(27). A bronze statue of Steelers founder Art Rooney, similar to those located outside PNC Park, was moved 100 feet from its previous position outside Three Rivers Stadium(28). In addition, a statue of a Pitt Panther over a paved depiction of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning was placed outside Gate A. Upon opening in 2001, Heinz Field’s 27 by 96 foot Sony JumboTron was the largest scoreboard in the NFL(29). In 2007, ESPN named the “tipping” of the oversized Heinz ketchup bottles atop the scoreboard one of the top ten touchdown celebrations in the NFL.(30)Tenants:
1. Pittsburgh Panthers (NCAA) 2001 – Present
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 2001 – Present
Acrisure Stadium, formerly (and still colloquially) known as Heinz Field, is a football stadium located in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Pittsburgh Panthers of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The stadium opened in 2001 as Heinz Field, following the controlled implosion of the teams’ previous home Three Rivers Stadium. In 2021, the owners of the Heinz name, now owned by Kraft Heinz declined to renew the stadium’s naming rights. The City of Pittsburgh green-lit Acrisure’s bid to purchase the rights in 2022.
Funded in conjunction with PNC Park and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the 281 million dollar (equivalent to 483.52 million dollars in 2023) stadium stands along the Ohio River, on the North Side of Pittsburgh in the North Shore neighborhood. The stadium was designed with the city of Pittsburgh’s history in steel production in mind, which led to the inclusion of 12,000 tons of steel into construction(10). Ground for the stadium was broken in June 1999, and the first football game was hosted in September 2001. The stadium’s natural grass surface has been criticized throughout its history, but Steelers owners have kept the grass after lobbying from players and coaches. The 68,400-seat stadium has sold out from most Steelers home games, a streak that dates to 1972. A collection of Steelers and Panthers memorabilia is in the Great Hall.
The stadium has hosted two outdoor hockey games: the 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, and the 2017 NHL Stadium Series game between the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The venue has also hosted numerous concerts; on June 17th, 2023, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour performance was attended by 73,117 people, the highest-ticketed event in Pittsburgh history. (5)
History
Planning and Funding
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates shared Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000. After discussions over the Pirates building a full-time baseball park, a proposal was made to renovate Three Rivers Stadium into a full-time football facility(11). Although the Steelers’ owners disliked the idea, the proposal was used as a “fallback position” that would be used if a "discussion’ for a new stadium failed(12). The Steelers’ owners said failing to build a new stadium would hurt the franchise’s chances of signing players who might sign with other teams, such as the other three in the Steelers division, who had all recently built new football-only stadiums(13). In June 2001, the H.J. Heinz Company purchased the naming rights to the stadium(14). Per the deal, Heinz would pay the Steelers a total of 57 million dollars through 2021, the “57” being an intentional reference to Heinz 57(15). Despite Heinz later announcing its acquisition of Kraft Foods Group to form Kraft Heinz Company in 2015, the stadium’s name was retained. (16)
Originally, a sales tax increase was proposed to fund three projects: Heinz Field, PNC Park, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. After rejecting this proposal in a 1997 referendum known as the “Regional Renaissance Initiative”, the city developed an alternate funding proposal Plan B(17). Similarly controversial, the proposal was labeled Scam B by opponents(18). The Steeler’s pledge toward the new stadium was criticized for being too little, even after being raised from $50 million to $76.5 million(11)(19). Other local government members criticized the 281 million dollars of public money allocated for Plan B(11)(20). One Allegheny Regional Asset District board member called the use of tax dollars “corporate welfare”(21). The plan, totaling $809 million, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board on July 9th, 1998, with $233 million allotted for Heinz Field(21)(22). Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh to stay in the city until at least 2031(18). The total cost of Heinz Field was $281 million. (23)
Former Heinz Field logo
Ground was broken for Heinz Field on June 18th, 1999, at a ceremony co-hosted by the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh(31). The stadium was constructed by Hunt Construction Group and Mascaro Construction Company, LP(32). The two companies directed 1,400 workers over two years, in which there were no construction accidents or lawsuits(28). The stadium is inspected yearly, along with PNC Park, by Chronicle Consulting, LLC, for structural defects and maintenance.(33)
Opening
The first event held at Heinz Field was a concert hosted by N’Sync on August 18th, 2001. Coincidentally, they were also the last band to perform at the Steelers’ previous home, Three Rivers Stadium(34)(35). Before the Steelers’ regular season, the team played a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions on August 25th, 2001(36). Pittsburgh won the stadium’s unofficial opening game 20 – 7, before 57,829 spectators(37). The first official football game played in the stadium was between the Pittsburgh Panthers and East Tennessee State, on September 1st. The Panthers won the game 31 – 0, with quarterback David Priestley scoring the first touchdown on an 85-yard run(38). The Steelers were scheduled to open the regular season play at Heinz Field on September 16th against the Cleveland Browns; however, due to the September 11th attacks, all NFL games of the week were postponed,(37)(39) thus moving the stadium’s premiere to October 7th, against the Cincinnati Bengals(39). Before the game, a speech from US President George W. Bush, ordering attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, was shown live on the stadium’s JumboTron(40). The speech was met with much applause and support from the spectators in attendance(39). Pittsburgh defeated the Bengals, 16 – 7. Steelers kicker Kris Brown scored the first NFL points in the stadium on a 26-yard field goal, and quarterback Kordell Stewart scored the first touchdown on an eight-yard run.(41)
That same year, two light-emitting diode (LED) video displays from Daktronics were installed at the field. The larger, HD video display measures approximately 28 feet high by nearly 96 feet wide.(42)
In 2007, writer Bill Evans named Heinz Field the second-best stadium in the NFL, behind Lambeau Field, in an article for ESPN.com(43). Although both stadiums received a score of 54 out of 70, Sports Illustrated named Heinz Field the second-best stadium in the NFL, also behind Lambeau Field.(44)
Future
While the Steelers continue to make capital improvements to Acrisure Stadium as well as expand seating, the future of the Pitt Panthers at the stadium has been murkier. Since the Panthers moved to the stadium, attendance for games has been varied, ranging from an average high of 59,197 people per game for the 2003 season to a low of 33,315 in 2007. More recently, Pitt averaged 41,696 in home attendance during the 2018 season. It has been argued that Pitt’s low attendance numbers are attributed to Acrisure Stadium being a distance from the Pitt campus in Oakland,(45) with games being largely attended by alumni as well as fans of the opposing teams. Many of Pitt’s students who live on or near campus either do not own a car or choose not to bring their car from home, leaving them to rely on the Port Authority of Allegheny County or vehicle-for-hire companies.
While there has been talk of extending the Pittsburgh Light Rail to Oakland, significant costs were cited during the construction of the North Shore Connector, which terminates at Acrisure Stadium(46). Another solution has mentioned moving the games back on campus with a purpose-built stadium, which has gained support from Pitt’s administration.(47)(48)(49)
In January 2021, just as the Heinz naming rights deal was set to expire, it was announced that Kraft-Heinz decided to renew the naming rights for just one more year, ensuring the name would remain through at least the end of 2021(50). As the naming rights were allowed to expire in 2022, the future name of the stadium was uncertain. However, Steelers president Art Rooney II has said he was “optimistic” about agreeing to another extension with Kraft-Heinz.(51)
However, on July 10th, 2022, it was reported that Heinz would not sign a new deal with the Steelers, ending their 21-year business arrangement(52). After unsuccessfully trying to find another local company to purchase the naming rights,(53) the naming rights were bought by Michigan-based insurance company Acrisure in a deal initially reported on July 11th, 2022; Steelers minority owner Thomas Tull also has an ownership stake in Acrisure(54)(53). The decision to rename the stadium has received overwhelmingly fierce opposition from Steelers fans. (55)
Kraft-Heinz did not remain outside of Steelers named sponsorship for much longer after giving up naming rights to the stadium itself, though; the company renegotiated with the Steelers to instead be the naming sponsor for Gate C, the closest gate to Allegheny Light Rail Station(56). Kraft Heinz later repurposed the Heinz Field name for the new football stadium for Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School in suburban Aliquippa, Pennsylvania as part of a $1.3 million endowment to the Aliquippa School District for new academic and athletic centers. (57)
Notable Events
In addition to football games, Acrisure Stadium has hosted other various activities.
Football
On August 4th, 2012, Heinz Field hosted the Women’s Football Alliance’s National Championship Game, becoming the first NFL stadium to host a title game for any women’s football league.(58)
The quickest score in NFL history occurred on September 8th, 2013, in the Steelers season opener against the Tennessee Titans, when the Steelers scored a safety on the opening kickoff three seconds into the game. Darius Reynaud of the Titans fielded the kickoff and took a short step backward (into the south end zone) for was what ruled to be a safety, not a touchback, because the ball was not in the end zone when it was fielded. The Steelers, however, lost the game 16 – 9, which was also their first home opener loss since the stadium opened. (59).
On October 7th, 2018, the Steelers won their 100th regular season game at Heinz Field with a record of 100 – 38 – 1 at that point. (60)
College Football
On September 1st, 2022, the Backyard Brawl between the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University met after an 11-year break of the rivalry, due to conference realignment. With an attendance of 70,622 fans, a new record was set for the largest sporting event in the history of Pittsburgh. The previous record was held by Penn State versus Pitt in 2016 with 69,983 in attendance. (61)
Concerts
Since its opening in 2001, bands and artists including ‘NSYNC, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and LeAnn Rimes have performed at the stadium. In addition, hometown bands The Clarks and the Povertyneck Hillbillies have played multiple shows at the stadium. (62)
Soccer
On July 27, 2014, Heinz Field hosted a soccer match between A.C. Milan and Manchester City which was part of the 2014 International Champions Cup and Manchester City won the match 5 – 1.(67)
Heinz Field hosted a women’s international exhibition match between the United States and Costa Rica on August 16th, 2015. It ended in an 8 – 0 victory for the United States, in their first match since winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and set a new attendance record for a standalone women’s friendly in the U.S. with 44,028 spectators.(68)
NHL Winter Classic
On May 28th, 2010, National Hockey League commissioner Gary Betteman announced that Heinz Field would be the host of the 2011 NHL Winter Classic(69). The game was played on January 1, 2011, between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho sang the Star-Spangled Banner before local sports legends Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, and Mario Lemieux dropped the ceremonial puck. The Capitals won, 3 – 1(70). The game was the highest-rated NHL contest since 1996 and the highest-rated regular season game since 1975(71). It was also the first-night Classic and the first to use “Cable Cam” technology.
In film & TV
The 2011 American Idol Auditions chose Pittsburgh as one of six cities and scheduled signups at Heinz Field on July 12th – 13th and auditions on July 15th, 2011.
Heinz Field served as the home field of the Gotham Rogues in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises(72). An estimated 15,000 unpaid extras filled the stadium during the shooting on August 6th, 2011. (73)
During Episode 4 of The Bachelorette (season 12), eleven contestants competed in a five-on-five football game. In addition, they met with football players from the Steelers, including Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, and Brett Keisel. (74)
Other events
In 2002, the Pittsburgh Marathon concluded at Heinz Field; the course was altered from past years to allow competitors to cross the finish line on the field. (75)
In 2005, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival was held at Heinz Field, and over 2,000 people attended.(76)
In 2021, Pittsburgh CLO presented a production of The Wizard of Oz from July 8th to July 10th on the field. (77)
Features
Playing Surface
In June 2001, Kentucky Bluegrass was laid on the field,(10) at half the height of most NFL fields 2-inch grass. The field is heated from below, using a mixture of antifreeze and hot water, to keep the field at around 62 oF to keep the grass growing year-round(35). The field was re-surfaced multiple times until the synthetic-enhanced Desso GrassMaster was installed in 2003(78). Debate continued over the surface after players began slipping during gameplay. Despite this players and coaches of Pitt, the Steelers, and their opponents supported keeping the current turf.(79)
I need the grass. I like the mud. I like the sloppiness, I’m used to it. Mr. Rooney, can we please keep the grass? I don’t want no FieldTurf. It’s bad on your knees.
--Ike Taylor(80)
On Friday, November 23rd, 2007, Heinz Field hosted four Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) championship football games which were followed the day after a game between Pitt and South Florida. After discussion with the NFL,(81) the Steelers owners decided to re-surface the field for their nationally televised game against the Miami Dolphins. A layer of sod was laid on the 2.5-acre GrassMaster surface(82). 1 ½ inches of rain fell after the new sod had been laid,(83) which did not allow the tarp to be removed from the field until 70 minutes before the game began(84). The field conditions were so bad that a punt by Dolphins’ punter Brandon Fields stuck to the turf without bouncing(85). The Steelers won the game 3 – 0, with a field goal by Jeff Reed with 17 seconds remaining;(86) it was the NFL’s first 3 – 0 game since 1993 and the longest two teams went without scoring since the New York Giants and Detroit Lions played to a scoreless tie, on November 11th, 1943(86). Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called the field a “veritable mud pit”(87). Gene Upshaw, head of the National Football Players’ Association, said a 2006 survey of NFL players ranked Heinz Field as the second-worst field in the league(87). Steelers receiver Hines Ward called the playing conditions “horrendous” after the game(88). However, the following day Ward and other Pittsburgh players lobbied to keep the natural surface, saying, “I think everybody wants to keep the grass.(80). Since that season, the Steelers have played their game on the weekend after Thanksgiving on the road at the team’s request.
Debate continued over the field later in the season when Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor called the field “a lawsuit pending”(89). Pittsburgh’s owners said the decision was up to the players, who once again defended the natural surface(90). In February 2008, the Steelers announced that they would keep the Desso GrassMaster surface(83). During the 2008 season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger received a concussion from a hit at Heinz Field. He later said, “I’m glad we weren’t on FieldTurf. That grass – you know, the soft Heinz Field – might have helped a little bit.(91)” After the 2008 season, a poll of 1,565 NFL players rated the surface at Heinz Field as the worst of the 18 natural surfaces in the League. (92)
The DDGrassmaster surface was removed in January 2009 and replaced with old sod placed on top of the DDGrassmaster surface for the AFC Championship later that month.(6)
The copyrights and reference citations are placed
at the end of Part 2 of this article on Heinz Field
which will be posted on October 15, 2024
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