Steelers Fans Will Be Overjoyed! After An Unpopular Name Change, Heinz Field Is Alive And Well In 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are about as loyal as they come. It is not really surprising given that the organization they support is arguably the most loyal one in the NFL. The team has only had three head coaches in more than 50 years. 

While in the modern era of the NFL, no team can keep their entire roster together. The Steelers have shown that they are willing to do their part to keep their "franchise" players in the black and gold. The majority of the players that come to mind when you think of the Steelers spent their whole career here or most of their career here. 

This is why it was a bit of a surprise when the name of the stadium changed. Originally called Heinz Field, the stadium in the North Shore area of the city of Pittsburgh is now Acrisure Stadium. 

In 2001, Heinz Field replaced Three Rivers Stadium, which had been home to the Steelers from 1970-2000. Three Rivers was also home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's MLB team, as well as the UFL's Pittsburgh Maulers and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.

The Pirates were moved into PNC Park and the Steelers to Heinz. The old Three Rivers site was imploded. The grounds of the historic venue now hold office buildings, parking lots, and a concert stage. 

While not going to Three Rivers took a little getting used to, most everyone embraced the Heinz Field experience. The H.J. Heinz Company and Pittsburgh have a long and significant history. The company, founded by Henry J. Heinz in 1869, had its headquarters at One PPG Place in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. 

Heinz continued to maintain naming rights for the stadium for 21 years. The signature ketchup bottles on the sides of the scoreboard would "pour" ketchup down the screen when the Steelers entered the red zone. Apparently, a Michigan-based insurance company was willing to outbid Heinz when the opportunity arose. Acrisure apparently paid more than $10 million a year, which would be about four times what Heinz was paying, a reported $2.85 million. 

While they may not have the naming rights, Heinz does maintain a business partnership with the Steelers. One of the beloved ketchup bottles was relocated to outside the Heinz gate. 

It wasn't a total surprise when fans, and even former players, announced it would always be Heinz Field to them. It's fair to say that Acrisure just doesn't have the same ring to it. 

Steelers' Heinz Field Lives On In Fans' Hearts And Now It Is Back

Now there is news that the name Heinz Field is back in Western Pennsylvania, it's just not on Art Rooney Avenue. Instead, it will be in another well-known football location. Aliquippa High School is renaming its legendary stadium "The Pit" to "Heinz Field." 

The Heinz corporation announced this recently, just ahead of the start of the high school football season. While the kids won't get any giant ketchup bottles on their scoreboard, they will have a big arch that fans walk under that bears the name. There will also be a large banner saying, "Heinz Field Home of the Quips" behind the goalposts. 

The Quips feel at home at Heinz since they played 15 consecutive championships at the Steelers field. Along with the name change, Heinz is donating $1.3 million toward the building of a new academic and athletic center for the team's locker rooms, a new weight room, as well as training rooms that will be used by the students and the community. 

So while for Steelers fans it isn't exactly the same thing, it is amazing to know that you can go see another Pittsburgh-based team with a history of excellence play at a field with one of the most well-known names in all of Pennsylvania. 

Go 'Quips! 

What did you think about the renaming of Heinz Field? Were you around for the change from Three Rivers to Heinz? Click to comment below.

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