Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Lloyd Brown
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
Acrisure Stadium 100 Art Rooney Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 68,400
Where Steel Meets Turf
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. They are the fifth-oldest franchise in the league, as they were founded in 1933. The Rooney family has owned the team since its inception, and they seem to be determined to make the Steelers fans feel that they have a “buy-in” with the team as well.
The team has called Acrisure Stadium home since 2001. It was previously known as Heinz Field, changing its name in 2022. Other homes for the Steelers have included Forbes Field, Pitt Stadium, and Three Rivers Stadium. The team has played in a record eight Super Bowls, winning six of those championship games.
Food & Beverage 4
Pittsburgh’s population features a virtual melting pot of ethnicities, and this is readily apparent in several offerings in the food and beverage area of stadium operations.
In addition to the usual stadium standards of soft drinks, popcorn, hot dogs, and candy, the Acrisure Stadium concessions programs include local favorites Primanti Brothers, Caliente Pizza and Draft House, Chickie and Pete’s, Franco’s Pizzeria, the Pierogi House, and Potato Patch Fries. Adult beverage brands sold at Acrisure Stadium include Iron City, Leinenkugel’s, Michelob, Miller, and Budweiser. The concessions program operates on a cashless basis.
To save time, the Steelers’ Official Mobile app allows you to order from your seat, so you will miss as little of the game as possible. After you place your order, you will receive a barcode. You receive a notification when your order is ready, and you simply have your barcode ready to show when you pick up your order at the nearest concession stand.
Atmosphere 5
Attending a Pittsburgh Steelers home game is a special treat. There is so much tradition attached to the team, as it was one of the original NFL members, dating back to the 1930s. That heritage is very apparent when you attend a Steelers home game at Acrisure Stadium.
The uniforms have changed very little over the years. The black and gold colors reflect the toughness of the franchise through the black, while the gold signifies the royalty of having been to eight Super Bowls, with six NFL championships in the books. Outside of the stadium, you see statues honoring Franco Harris and the Rooney family, who both played a major role in those championship seasons.
Once inside, the Great Hall on the concourse under the east stands is filled with displays honoring the top Steelers of the past, along with displays reflecting each of the championship seasons. You will also see displays featuring the University of Pittsburgh and its legendary players, including Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino. (Pitt also plays its home games at Acrisure Stadium.)
Finally, you get to your seat, surrounded by 68,000 black and gold-clad fans. As the Steelers come out on the field before the game, the stands erupt with nearly 70,000 Terrible Towels waving in the air. History, heritage, hoagies, and hard hits are all part of the game-day atmosphere at Acrisure Stadium.
Neighborhood 4
Acrisure Stadium is in the North Shore Section of Pittsburgh, as it is located on the northern shoreline of the Allegheny River. Visitors to this side of the river have plenty of options for dining, entertainment, exercise, and culture. Attractions within walking distance of Acrisure Stadium include the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, the Riverwalk, and PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dining and drinking establishments in the North Shore community include Burgertory and Mike’s Beer Bar, which carries more than 80 craft beers on tap.
Lying just across the river from Acrisure Stadium is downtown Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle. This can be reached from the North Shore by crossing the Roberto Clemente Bridge or via the PRT light rail system.
Downtown attractions include the Heinz Hall for Performing Arts, the Fort Pitt Museum, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center, which includes an extensive set of exhibits on the history of the Steelers franchise.
Fans 4
The Steel City is noted for its very devoted fan bases, whether we are talking about the Penguins, the Pirates, or the Steelers. The Steelers fanbase has been around since 1933, celebrating many Super Bowl victories as well as suffering through some rebuilding seasons. Coach Mike Tomlin always seems to have his team well prepared, no matter what roster shortcomings the Steelers may have.
The Steeler fans are easy to spot in their black and gold attire, outfitted with their gold and black “Terrible Towels”, which wave incessantly on key plays throughout the game. Several fan groups exist for individual players as well as for the entire team. It is mostly a white-collar crowd, with many families boasting of third-generation support for the Steelers.
A new addition for fans to enjoy is the Play Football pregame area outside of the stadium at the south end of the stadium property. This features numerous football-related skills challenges, visits by the Steelers mascot, a trivia contest, and visits with immortal Steelers players from the past. The 2026 NFL Draft will be aired from this location during the draft process.
Access 5
Steeler fans have several options to reach Acrisure Stadium on Sundays in the fall. Persons driving in from the north can take I-279 South and take exits IB or 2B to lots on the North Shore. Other travelers coming south on Rte. 28 South can exit at East Ohio Street to reach the parking lots. Acrisure Stadium is located within a mile of both I-376 and I-579.
Fans coming from the south should park in one of the several lots in Downtown Pittsburgh. Fans can then cross the Allegheny River via the Andy Warhol Bridge to Acrisure Stadium. The PRT light rail system runs a free shuttle service from downtown Pittsburgh to the North Side Station and the Allegheny Station, which are both within easy walking distance of Acrisure Stadium. The WAZE app will advise you on the best route to Acrisure Stadium on gamedays.
Recently, the Steelers and the Pirates partnered in the development of a new parking garage located between their two stadiums. The Champions Garage offers 400 additional parking spots in the area near the stadium.
The most unique way to get to Acrisure Stadium for a Steelers game is via the Gateway Clipper Water Shuttle. Fans can park at the Station Square complex along the Monongahela River and sail to Acrisure Stadium. This journey will include a short portion of the Ohio River as well. The cost for this option is $15 round-trip.
Once you enter the stadium, you will have access to more than 45 restrooms, 7 team stores, and 15 novelty stands. The Acrisure Stadium gates open two hours before kickoff.
Return on Investment 4
The Steelers have a huge season ticket base, with many locals passing on their prized tickets to the next generation of their family to carry on the tradition. This leaves relatively few tickets available for visitors to the area, and this is reflected in the single-game ticket prices. We sampled prices from both a regular-season rivalry game (in this case, a game against the Cincinnati Bengals) and an early-season non-conference foe (Jacksonville).
The prices for the rivalry game on the team site were $159.25 for a seat in the 500 level behind the end zone, and $202.65 for a seat at the 50-yard line in the 500 level. For this same game, the tickets at the 200 level of the stands were $340.60 for behind-the-end-zone seats and $617.70 for 50-yard line seats at that level. In comparison, the same ticket locations for an early-season, non-conference game against Jacksonville priced out at $49.55 for a behind-the-end-zone seat and $149.20 for a 50-yard line seat.
Gameday parking in North Shore lots ranges from $20 to $35.
The light rail system to and from the North Side and Allegheny stations is free on game days.
Extras 3
One extra goes to having a terrific view of Downtown Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle across the river from the stadium.
A second extra must go to the fans with their Terrible Towels. Visiting fans can feel the energy generated by 50,000 towels waving on key plays during the games.
The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum is also located at Acrisure Stadium. It is well worth a visit on a non-gameday. The 10,000 square foot museum promotes, preserves, and celebrates the Steelers’ history. There are 50 former Steelers in the franchise’s Hall of Honor, and in addition to those players, significant games and plays are also on display in this heritage hall.
Final Thoughts
History, heritage, hard hits, and hoagies all come together as a part of the gameday experience at Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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