Heinz Field

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the 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] Though met with negative reaction from Steelers ownership, the proposal was used as a "fallback position" that would be used if discussions for a new stadium failed.[12] Steelers ownership stated that failing to build a new stadium would hurt the franchise's chances of signing players who might opt to sign with other teams, such as the other three teams 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 will pay the Steelers a total of $57 million 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 will remain Heinz Field.[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 the rejection of this proposal in a 1997 referendum known as the "Regional Renaissance Initiative", the city developed the alternate funding proposal Plan B.[17] Similarly controversial, the proposal was labeled Scam B by opponents.[18] The Steelers' pledge toward the new stadium was criticized for being too little, even after it was raised from $50 million to $76.5 million.[11][19] Other local government members criticized the $281 million of public money allocated for Plan B.[11][20] One member of the Allegheny Regional Asset District board 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 9, 1998, with $233 million allotted for Heinz Field.[21][22] Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh city officials 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] In order to accomplish this, HOK Sport used steel structurally and externally.[25] The stone used in Heinz Field's design is artificial, in order to decrease cost.[25] Of 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 buildings 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 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, Heinz Field'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 (30 m) 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 (8.2 by 29.3 m) 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]

A view of Heinz Field from across the river.

Ground was broken for Heinz Field on June 18, 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 Corporation.[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]

Heinz Field in 2007 with Downtown Pittsburgh in the background

The first event held at Heinz Field was a concert hosted by the band 'N Sync, on August 18, 2001. Coincidentally, they were also the last band to perform at the Steelers' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium.[34][35] Prior to the Steelers regular season schedule, the team played a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions on August 25, 2001.[36] Pittsburgh won the stadium's unofficial opening game 20–7, with 57,829 spectators in attendance.[37] The first official football game played in the stadium was between the Pittsburgh Panthers and East Tennessee State, on September 1. 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 16 against the Cleveland Browns; however, due to the September 11 attacks, all NFL games of the week were postponed,[37][39] thus moving the stadium's premiere to October 7, against the Cincinnati Bengals.[39] Prior to 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 (8.5 m) high by nearly 96 feet (29 m) 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]

While the Steelers continue to make capital improvements to Heinz Field as well as expand seating, the future of the Pitt Panthers at the stadium has been more murky. Since the Panthers moved to Heinz Field, 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. Most recently, Pitt averaged 41,696 in home attendance during the 2018 season. Many argue that Pitt's low attendance numbers are attributed to Heinz Field 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 chose 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 construction of the North Shore Connector, which terminates at Heinz Field.[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]

On July 29, 2019, Sports Business Media reported that Kraft Heinz is unlikely to renew their naming rights contract for Heinz Field with the Steelers.[50]

On August 4, 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.[51]

The quickest score in NFL history occurred on September 8, 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 backwards (into the south end zone) for what was 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 Heinz Field opened.[52]

The record for longest NFL field goal at Heinz field (regular season or preseason) is 55 yards and is shared by Mason Crosby and Matt Gay. Mason Crosby kicked his 55-yard field goal on August 23, 2015[53] while Matt Gay kicked his field goal on August 9, 2019.[54] The longest regular season NFL field goal ever kicked in Heinz Field is 53 yards. Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey first set the regular season record in 2016. That record was tied on November 26, 2017 by Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell in a game-winning effort over the Green Bay Packers with 4 seconds remaining in the game, resulting in a 31–28 win. In collegiate play, University of Pittsburgh kicker Alex Kessman kicked a 55-yard field goal against the Syracuse Orange on October 6, 2018.

On October 7, 2018, the Steelers won their 100th regular season game at Heinz Field with a record of 100-38-1 at that point.[55]

Since its opening in 2001, bands and artists including 'N Sync, Beyoncé, 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.[56]

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.[61]

Heinz Field hosted a women's international exhibition match between the United States and Costa Rica on August 16, 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.[62]

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
July 27, 2014	Manchester City	5–1	A.C. Milan	2014 International Champions Cup	34,347
August 16, 2015	United States women	8–0	Costa Rica women	Women's International Friendly	44,028
July 25, 2018	Benfica	2-2 4-3 pens	Borussia Dortmund	2018 International Champions Cup	16,171

Heinz Field in hockey configuration before the 2011 NHL Winter Classic

On May 28, 2010, National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Heinz Field would be the host of the 2011 NHL Winter Classic.[63] The game was played 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.[64] The game was the highest rated NHL contest since 1996 and the highest rated regular season game since 1975.[65] It was also the first night Classic and the first to use "CableCam" technology.

The 2011 American Idol Auditions chose Pittsburgh of one of six cities and scheduled signups at Heinz Field on July 12–13 and auditions on July 15, 2011.

Heinz Field served as the home field of the Gotham Rogues in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises.[66] An estimated 15,000 unpaid extras filled the stadium during shooting on August 6, 2011.[67]

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.[68]

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.[69]

In 2005, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival was held at Heinz Field, over 2,000 people attended.[70]

In June 2001, Kentucky Bluegrass was laid on the field,[10] at half the height of most NFL field's 2-inch (51 mm) grass. The field is heated from below, using a mixture of antifreeze and hot water, to keep the field at around 62 °F (17 °C) in order 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.[71] Debate continued over the surface after players began slipping during game play. Despite this players and coaches of Pitt, the Steelers, and their opponents supported keeping the current turf.[72]

On Friday, November 23, 2007, Heinz Field hosted four WPIAL championship football games which were followed the day after with a game between Pitt and South Florida. After discussion with the NFL,[74] Steelers ownership made the decision to re-surface the field for their nationally televised game against the Miami Dolphins. A layer of sod was laid overtop the 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) Desso GrassMaster surface.[75] The field's condition was exacerbated by 1½ inches of rain after the new sod had been laid,[76] which did not allow the tarp to be removed from the field until 70 minutes before the game began.[77] The field conditions during the game ended up being so bad that at one point during the game, a punt by Dolphins punter Brandon Fields ended up sticking into the turf without bouncing.[78] The Steelers won the game 3–0, with a field goal by Jeff Reed with 17 seconds remaining in regulation;[79] 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 11, 1943.[79] Scott Brown, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, called the field a "veritable mud pit".[80] While Gene Upshaw, head of the National Football League Players' Association, also criticized the field citing a 2006 survey of NFL players that ranked Heinz Field as the second worst field in the league.[80] Steelers receiver Hines Ward called the playing conditions "horrendous" after the game.[81] However, the following day Ward and other Pittsburgh players lobbied to keep the natural surface stating, "I think everybody wants to keep the grass."[73] Since that season, the Steelers have played their game on the weekend following Thanksgiving on the road at the team's request.

Heinz Field before a Steelers game

Debate continued over the field later in the season when Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor called the field "a lawsuit pending".[82] Pittsburgh's ownership stated that the decision was up to the players, who once again defended the natural surface.[83] In February 2008, the Steelers announced that they would keep the Desso GrassMaster surface.[76] During the 2008 season quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given a concussion after being hit at Heinz Field. He later stated, "I'm glad we weren't on FieldTurf. That grass—you know, the soft Heinz Field—might've helped a little bit."[84] 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.[85]

The DDGrassmaster surface was removed in January 2009 and replaced with the old sod placed on top of the DDGrassmaster surface for the AFC Championship also in January 2009.[6]

When the outdoor sports venue opened in 2001, both end zones were painted athletic gold during Steelers home games (this also happened for the final 5 seasons at Three Rivers Stadium), with “PITTSBURGH” on the North side and “Steelers” on the South side; both words were painted black with white outlines. Either "Steelers" or "Panthers" was painted in the end zone, depending on the game itself, during the first three years.

For the 2002 Steelers regular season, the athletic gold end zone paint was scaled backed to being just around the words. The design for the 2002 Wild Card matchup had athletic gold paint replace the white outlines for both black painted words and removed everywhere else.

In 2003, the Steelers played the Philadelphia Eagles in a preseason game with plain diagonal white lines in the South end zone, which were common in NFL end zones until the 1960s. Although the Steelers lost the game 21–16, team president Dan Rooney liked the look of the South end zone being "plain", and decided to bring it back the next year. The 2003 season was the last year to date which contained “PITTSBURGH” and “Steelers” in black words with athletic gold outlines in both end zones.

Starting in 2004, the wordmark designs were flipped in paint color, “PITTSBURGH” in the North and “Steelers” in the South were now athletic gold with the former having either dark blue outlines for Pitt or black for the Steelers. The diagonal white lines in the South end zone during the college portion of the season began in this year too, with “Steelers” being added after Pitt has played their final home game of the year.

In the aforementioned Dolphins-Steelers Monday Night Football match of 2007, the surface conditions had become so deteriorated from the rain and gameplay itself that the field grid of hash marks, yard lines, mid-field logo, and wordmarks in both end zones were barely visible throughout the game. Sideline hash marks (painted orange) and yard lines were re-painted at halftime.

From 2001 through 2010, there was typically no midfield logo when both Pitt and the Steelers were in season; the Steelers had their logo painted on the sidelines when Pitt's football season was ongoing and transferred it to midfield after Pitt's football season ended (except for the first two seasons when it was only added for the postseason).

As of the 2011 season, Pitt and the Steelers in cooperation have their respective logos at midfield for their own homes games, being interchanged frequently.

Being a member of the American Football Conference (AFC), the grounds crew of Heinz Field has painted the conference logo in both end zones for every Pittsburgh Steelers postseason home game to date.

Panorama of Heinz Field from club seating during Steelers vs. Chiefs post-game on December 21, 2014. Note the "Steelers" painted in the south endzone, added after the college football season.

As of 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers have sold out every home game since the 1972 season.[86] Entering the 2008 season, the Steelers average ticket price of $69.47 was the 15th highest out of the NFL's 32 teams.[87] The majority of the 65,050 seats are colored "Steeler gold," though club seats are dark gray.[10][25] Heinz Field features 1,500 seats in 129 luxury boxes, with prices ranging from $64,000 to $135,000 depending on location and size. These boxes were predicted to increase the Steelers' profits from $10 to $11 million per season over those at Three Rivers Stadium. The stadium also features 6,600 club seats that include a restaurant and an indoor bar, at prices up to $2,000 per person.[23] For the 2010 season, season ticket prices for Panthers games range from a maximum of $295 per club seat with required donations per seat between $250 and $500 depending on location, to as low as $87 per seat with no required donation for upper end zone sections. Individual game ticket prices ranged from $30 to $65 depending on the seat location and the opponent.[88]

The Great Hall

The Great Hall spans approximately 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²) on the east side of the stadium and houses a collection of Steelers and Pittsburgh Panthers memorabilia. The Hall includes a timeline of the Steelers franchise's major events, an oversized Steelers helmet hangs from the ceiling beside a video screen that shows entertainment for fans throughout game days.[89] The Great Hall also features the actual lockers of several former Steelers, including Hall of Fame members Franco Harris, Joe Greene, and Bill Dudley.[89]

Six large Super Bowl trophies-shaped display columns were erected and contain artifacts from each championship the Steelers have won including replica trophies.[90] Two display columns are dedicated to the University of Pittsburgh and contain memorabilia from the Panthers' teams. The floor is painted to resemble the field at Three Rivers Stadium, with the word "Steelers" painted in black over a gold background.[89] University of Pittsburgh players are featured on two large murals within the Hall. Eight additional tile murals created by local high schools represent western Pennsylvania football history.[90] In 2007, the Great Hall was named the best concourse at an NFL stadium by writer Bill Evans, in an article for ESPN.com.[43]