A legend of the NFL, Heinz Field – as it’s still commonly referred to – has stood on the North Side of Pittsburgh and overlooking the Ohio River since the turn of the millennium. It’s an icon of the sport and boasts a capacity of 68,400 -- now known as Acrisure Stadium.
Mariah Wild / Pittsburgh Steelers
However, the lease on the Acrisure Stadium is quickly coming to an end. In five years, the Pittsburgh Steelers would, as it stands, be without a home ground. So, now is the time to plan to build or commit to North Shore.
As has been relayed by Yahoo! Sports, former quarterback Charlie Batch told The Snap Count that “conversations are happening” in the front office to decide the next move. He’s on the side of all options being on the table.
Desire to Renovate Heinz Field
In sports around the world, even those with stadiums that rival or exceed the grandeur of NFL stadiums, 30 years old isn’t necessarily that old. Many aren’t seen as outdated until they’re causing issues to the experience.
NFL teams, however, tend to see three decades in the modern era as a bit long in the tooth. Already, the 1999-opened stadiums of the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans are set to be departed for new venues in 2029 and 2027, respectively.
For now, it looks like the preference of the Steelers is not to follow the steps of the Browns and Titans, but instead to renovate and extend the lease. The issue, however, is that the team wants some public funding.
Acrisure Stadium is seen as being in need of upgrades, but that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Under current lease terms, the SEA funds certain upgrade projects, but that may not be the case in the near future.
Further, there isn’t much political appetite to commit public money to private sports ventures, given the well-known values and earnings of these teams. For now, smaller renovations, like the new field, are the focus.
A Grand Occasion to Celebrate
Despite being a relatively young venue, massive updates and renovations or a move to a new ground would prove cause for grand celebrations among the Steelers faithful. After all, the fans deserve the best experience possible.
Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave their Terrible Towels aggressively as Styx famous song, Renegade plays during a home game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
When the plans are eventually revealed, they should be paired with the plans for the next grand opening. Already, just for the new seat replacement project, the Acrisure Stadium is selling off the old seats as memorabilia.
It’s a superb move, and one that would be well-repeated if a stadium move were to take place. Further, a form of welcome bonus to those who attend the big opening would do well. This would help to drive interest even beyond the core fans.
This is common practice in online entertainment because it’s so effective. Take the bingo bonus as an example. Here, players get four times the initial deposit as a bonus on top and can use it on a welcome slots offer.
It’s a way of expanding the experience upon entry to allow for further exploration, from the core bingo offering to the slots and other games.
A similar move for the Acrisure Stadium would be to offer free beverages or food with a purchase of a low-cost entry ticket, or perhaps some memorabilia for the occasion.
Stadiums around the world celebrate massive renovations, new stadium openings, and even the partial completion of the venue. The celebrations of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the new Inter Miami home demonstrate this well.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big decision ahead of them. Regardless of the call to either stay and renovate or to build a new stadium, the occasion likely to come early in the next decade should be welcomed with grand celebrations.