When the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the changing of the name of their stadium to Acrisure Stadium, fans were thrown threw a loop. With an entire generation of fans knowing the Steelers stadium as Heinz Field, the new name is definitely going to be something that will take some getting used to. The entire Steelers franchise is built on tradition, rich history, and an unapologetic old-fashioned, blue-collar attitude; and Heinz Field was constructed on that DNA.
Heinz Field provided a stage for Pittsburghers to watch their beloved home team play a physical, imposing style of football in the harsh elements of a western-Pennsylvania winter, on top of a beat-up field mixed of grass and mud with the yard markers barely visible. With that said, why is a name change that big of a deal?
To one Steelers insider, the Steelers stadium is one of the worst in the NFL, regardless of the name.
Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had some strong words to say about our favorite stadium. Cook took a strong stance on where he thinks Acrisure Stadium lands in comparison to others in the league:
“I don’t like Heinz Field or — sorry — Acrisure Stadium. It was built on the cheap and might be the worst facility in the NFL, at least of those constructed in 2000 or after. I wouldn’t like it by any name.” Cook went onto proclaim, “It doesn’t have the amenities that most of the other NFL stadiums enjoy. It is pretty much bare bones. It can’t match up with the stadiums in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore, let alone with the rocket ships in Dallas, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Minneapolis.”
Cook concluded in saying:
“But I won’t be disturbed in the least when Acrisure comes tumbling down.”
While it is true that Acrisure Stadium can’t match up with the massive venues of the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles teams, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Minneapolis Vikings, all of those stadiums were built after Acrisure Stadium. By saying the Steelers built their stadium “on cheap” and using those venues as examples is the same thing as saying a 2001 BMW should compare with a 2015 Ferrari. Does that really make sense?
In 2001, the Steelers upgraded from Three Rivers Stadium that cost $55,000,000 in 1970 to a shiny new Heinz Field that cost $281,000,000. Fast-forwarding to 2022, the Steelers stadium is one of the 10 least expensive venues in the NFL. For reference, the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and the Cleveland Browns all have stadiums that cost more than $281M to construct; we see how those teams have performed. For a stadium to be considered “pretty much bare bones,” I’d rather have a wining team than a tourist destination where the visiting team’s fanbase takes over the stadium.
The Steelers renovated the south endzone of what was Heinz Field in 2015. (Steelers.com)
A team’s stadium should be a reflection of the home franchise and the embodying city. What was Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, is exactly that. Sure, there’s no retractable roof, no five-star restaurants in the concession stands, and no fan attractions (outside of the Great Hall) to draw more out-of-town fans, but isn’t that what the actual Steelers team is for? The Steelers thrive on the ‘we’ll beat you anywhere, anytime’ mantra and that is exactly what Acrisure Stadium reflects.
Three Rivers Stadium hosted some of the greatest Steelers players in history with Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount. The stadium witnessed four Super Bowl championship-winning teams in its history. Amongst that history however, the stadium was built out of the 1970’s AstroTurf era and was clearly outdated for the 21st century. There was no denying the Steelers needed to keep up with the times after a 31-year stint.
Heinz Field welcomed an entirely new generation of younger Steelers fans. These fans grew up watching Kordell Stewart running circles around defenses on the new grass turf in 2001, the days of Jerome Bettis running over defenders in the mud, and the various Ben Roethlisberger-led teams setting new records on their way to winning AFC Championship games under the giant ketchup bottles. What is not to say Acrisure Stadium won’t bring the same? If the Steelers keep on winning, who cares if the stadium was cheaply built?
Since construction, the Steelers have made a large effort to keep the stadium up to date in the way of a heated field, an improved drainage system, and multiple scoreboard and jumbotron enhancements. From listening to Acrisure Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Greg Williams, it sounds like there are plans to not only maintain those projects, but to make a conscious effort to modernize the stadium. Isn’t that what fans ask for each season?
Greg Williams talks about what Acrisure will bring the Pittsburgh community during the new stadium name announcement (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
There is a clear divide amongst fans concerning the state of the stadium. Heinz Field was built to carry-on the old-fashioned traditions from the past, while establishing a strong benchmark of performance for the future. Now that the stadium’s first generation has come and gone, it is time to welcome the next one. Only time will tell in knowing what this new generation will bring to the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh as a whole.
Do you think the Steelers stadium is outdated? What changes would you like to see happen? Let us know in the comments below!
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