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Forged by Steel

Official Review by Steven Bieniek, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

When someone mentions the city of Pittsburgh, normally the first thought that comes to mind is its football team. The Steelers are woven into the fabric of the city, and it’s evident from the moment you enter the city. When you fly into Pittsburgh International Airport, as you go to pick up your bags, you will pass two statues, one of George Washington and the other of Franco Harris making the “Immaculate Reception.” If that doesn’t explain the way the people of Pittsburgh think, I’m not sure what does. The big ketchup bottle that the Steelers play in is one of great stadiums in the NFL. Heinz Field is perfect for the diehard football fan or for someone that just needs to see the great stadiums of the sports world.

Food & Beverage    4

The bad news first, all concessions are expensive inside the stadium; it is the NFL after all. Beer will be between $7-$8 depending on where you get it; burgers ($8), foot long hot dogs ($6.75) and nachos grande ($7) are all on the upper end of the price range as well. You'll run into many local favorites, such as Primanti Bros. sandwiches and Quaker Steak and Lube wings. The easiest place to find these local favorites is in the Great Hall, the shrine dedicated to the Steelers championships. Also, all condiment stations are from the stadium namesake, and they even include jalapeños to scoop onto your nachos or hot dogs.

There are a few new concession stands located throughout the stadium. Pub '33 is brand new in the Great Hall; it's a great place to watch the end or beginning of games in another town. There is an Old Fashioned Soda wagon now stationed in the open end of the field and a BBQ stand now at the top level in the closed end of the field.

The one thing that isn't exactly consistent is the quality of the food. The wings and Primanti sandwiches are always great, and the best quality food will be from the grill in the open end zone. The burgers and chicken sandwiches at the grill will be the best in the stadium. There are other items you can't be as sure about, though. Soft pretzels may or may not be soft; and a new item, Cajun cheese fries, are not nearly as good as the picture at the concession stand shows. These fries are loaded with cheese with just a little bit of Cajun seasoning sprinkled on top. Bottom line though, it won't matter whether you eat inside or outside the stadium, you won't leave hungry or wishing for better food.

Atmosphere    5

The atmosphere at Heinz Field is everything that someone wants in an NFL game. The crowds will be large, and they take their football seriously. Before the starting lineups are announced, the Terrible Towels start waving, the fans start yelling and you'd think they all know every coach and player on the home team personally. The team management does a masterful job helping the fans get to this point as well. The Jumbotron will show amazing assortments of Steelers highlights as the team comes out and right before kickoff. The great thing is that it won't matter who the opponent is, the atmosphere will be better than almost anything you'll find anywhere else.

This type of atmosphere will continue on throughout the game. Every big play and bad call will be met with appropriate screen shots and chants from the crowd. It's no secret that Pittsburgh fans are nuts about their football, so don't be surprised if you hear less than desirable words at times, but that comes with just about any fan base.

Another bonus to the atmosphere you'll receive is when you walk through the Great Hall. This shrine is dedicated to the many successes of the organization. If nothing else, this is a great history lesson for those not familiar with the Steelers.

The atmosphere will start as soon as you get out of the car, though. Every surface lot will have tailgating as far as you can see with countless cornhole and beer pong games being played. The east side of the stadium will actually have carnival-type vendors set up for anyone who needs a pregame snack.

There is also pregame and post game parties at Stage AE in between Heinz Field and PNC Park. If you're a hardcore Steelers fan, there are even face painting booths set up both inside and outside the stadium. When you leave Heinz Field, you won't have to try hard to remember your experience.

Neighborhood    5

Heinz Field is situated on Pittsburgh's north shore and shares a parking lot with PNC Park and Stage AE. There are several entertainment options before or after a game if tailgating is not your thing. A short walk away is the Rivers Casino and several great restaurants, such as Grille 36, Jerome Bettis's restaurant.

Just as with a game at PNC Park, downtown Pittsburgh is not very far away with good bars, restaurants and night life, including a very nice bar called Olive or Twist. To go along with this, there are several museums, including the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum if you want something really different. There is really something for everyone in this part of Pittsburgh, especially if you have time to explore.

Fans    5

Arguably some of the best fans in football, the people of Pittsburgh and fans of the Steelers make a game a very enjoyable experience. Like any other stadium, there is a wide range of fans, from the fan just wanting to be at the game to the incredibly crazy and very audible fan. To add to this, you won't find a city more attached to its team, or a fan-base more knowledgeable about the team and its players. You will hear fans affectionately yell at players by their first name and wave the Terrible Towel like it is their job. The ultimate cheer will be when there is the inevitable big moment in the second half while the Pittsburgh defense is on the field, and the Jumbotron will play a montage of big hits set to the Styx song "Renegade." The crowd will erupt when it knows this video is coming, and quite frankly, that sight is all you will need to sum up Pittsburgh fans.

Access    2

This is the only part of the stadium experience that is really lacking. The stadium gets crowded and it's very hard to move around at times. The bathrooms are small, the concession lines are long, and you wait in line to get into the stadium. Since the NFL has short halftimes, it's nearly impossible to make it to the concessions and back to your seat before the start of the second half. Also, if you plan to go into the stadium just before kickoff or later, prepare to wait in a very large crowd to get through the gates. So, the tip here is to make sure you enter Heinz Field early so you don't miss any of the game.

Also, there is the parking situation. Normally, getting into Pittsburgh won't be entirely hateful, unless you're coming in very close to game time. Finding a lot to actually park in is much harder. Most lots close to the stadium will be for pre-paid customers (season ticket holders), and the lots you can pay to get into will run anywhere between $30-$50. The best place to park may be the garage at the Rivers Casino. In 2012, the initial cost will be $40; however, there are several ways for you to earn your money back just by being a member of their players club. On your way out, there will be countless policemen guiding you to the highway, so be prepared to sit in traffic again. The new addition to Pittsburgh's subway system may help, but that has yet to be seen.

Return on Investment    5

The price of a ticket to get into Heinz Field is going to set you back, no matter where you sit. The upper end zone seats alone are $70 at face value. Most of the stadium is filled with season ticket holders, and those tickets that can be purchased at face value are few and far between. Game day at Heinz Field is really nothing less than a celebration. The atmosphere and pure joy from within the stadium can be felt well before the opening kickoff. It helps that the team has had both past and recent success, so the fan base always has something to be excited about. A great atmosphere, great food and a near perfect location make a trip to Heinz Field well worth the money.

Extras    3

The three extras are the overall good management of Heinz Field, the Renegade video, and the historical value you get in the Great Hall. The staff at Heinz Field is very accommodating to any special needs that a fan may have, and I've never seen a video get fans to their feet as fast as the Renegade video does; it's truly a sight to see. Be sure to take time to walk through the Great Hall, it's really a great collection of items for the history of the team.

Final Thoughts

It's now been over a decade since the first game at Heinz Field was played. New stadiums have opened since then that are bigger and cost more to build, but Heinz Field still ranks as an upper echelon stadium in the NFL. Improvements are made every year, including adding 3,000 seats for the 2013 season. Once you add on the gold seats, Heinz Field becomes one of the most iconic stadiums in the country.

Living in Pittsburgh for 10 years, I have had the pleasure of attending games here several times. Pi

Living in Pittsburgh for 10 years, I have had the pleasure of attending games here several times. Pittsburgh fans are passionate about every sports franchise they have, especially their Steelers. It is a great atmosphere and it is one of the best stadiums I have ever been to. Any football fan should attend a game here.

by JasonClary | Apr 22, 2010 09:53 AM

\"It is only the second true home of the Steelers, other than the concrete-and-turf cookie cutter th

"It is only the second true home of the Steelers, other than the concrete-and-turf cookie cutter that was Three Rivers Stadium."

Your stadium-counting logic is flawed. By your logic (that Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field don't count because they were "shared" facilities), Three Rivers shouldn't count either, as the Steelers shared it with the Pirates.

Moreover, the Steelers share Heinz Field is shared with Pitt.

You'd be much better off saying Heinz Field is the Steelers' fourth stadium, or dropping this odd inaccuracy altogether.

by CO_Frontier | Sep 24, 2010 07:44 AM

Good point. We\'ve corrected the introductory paragraph to a simpler summary- the Steelers\' 4th hom

Good point. We've corrected the introductory paragraph to a simpler summary- the Steelers' 4th home stadium. Thanks for the critique...

by paul | Sep 24, 2010 08:56 AM

What an atmosphere!!

This place is rockin 8 weekends a year! Love or hate the Steelers you have to love what the crowd brings to the atmosphere for every home game! Loved the review, keep up the great work Stadium Journey!!!

by steelersfan | Oct 28, 2011 03:12 PM

Light rail access

The light rail connection mentioned in the original review has been completed this spring, 2012. There are two stations now on the North Shore, one near PNC Park for the Pirates and the other next to Heinz Field.

With an agreement between the Steelers, the nearby casino, and other parties, the "T", as it is called, is a free ride both ways from the downtown station to both North Shore stations.

by mac | May 10, 2012 09:37 PM

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