Heinz Field is a football stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located on the banks of the Ohio River, in the North Shore area of the city.
The stadium is home to two football teams: the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL), and the college football team Pittsburgh Panthers.
Construction began with the ground being broken in June 1999, and the stadium was officially opened with the hosting of an �?N Sync concert just over two years later on August 18, 2001. The Heinz Field cost $281 million to build.
Heinz Field replaced the Three Rivers Stadium as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team played at the multi-purpose Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 until 2000, sharing it with Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Heinz Field was built immediately adjacent to the site of the Three Rivers Stadium, which was demolished by controlled implosion in 2000.
How Many Seats Are In Heinz Field?
The capacity of Heinz Field has changed slightly in the years since its construction. The stadium began life as a 64,450-capacity stadium, and remained that way until 2006.
Capacity increased by 500 to 65,050 for the remainder of the decade, until an announcement in December 2010 that the stadium was seeking to expand by a further 4,000 seats.
Temporary seating at that time took the Heinz Field’s total capacity to 69,050, before a permanent stadium expansion, completed in summer 2015, increased capacity to just shy of that figure- 68,400.
The stadium’s largest ever attendance, and the largest crowd to ever witness a sporting occasion in Pittsburgh, came in a September 10, 2016 game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Directions- How To Get To Heinz Field
By Public Transportation
Heinz Field is located in the North Shore neighborhood, just across the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh. If you don’t want to drive all the way to the stadium, there are several public transport options available, including bus, rail, and boat!
One option is the Pittsburgh light rail service. Heinz Field is connected to the light rail network by a specially constructed footbridge, which connects it with nearby Allegheny Station.
If you park Downtown, matchday trains to the stadium are free. You could also choose to park at any number of stations along the Red Line, for example in South Hills, and ride the light rail to Heinz Field.
There are also several ways to reach Heinz Field by boat, which could be used standalone or as? park and ride’ options.
The Gateway Clipper runs between Station Square and Heinz Field every 5-30 minutes on game day, starting two hours before kickoff, and costs $6 per person.
If you prefer a more scenic route, you could choose to cruise down the Allegheny River from the Strip District. For $85 per person, you will receive a round-trip river cruise with food and beverages included.
The shuttle boards 3 hours before the game, arriving at Heinz Field 1 hour before kickoff.
By Car
If arriving from the Airport, you will need to merge onto the I-376 E toward Pittsburgh. The I-376 will become the I-279 North. Continue along I-279 until you reach exit 1B, which will then take you toward the North Shore.
Take a slight left onto Reedsdale Street, then left again onto Allegheny Avenue, which becomes North Shore Drive. North Shore Drive encircles Heinz Field.
If arriving from 279 Parkway North, follow the I-279 southbound to the North Shore Exit, which is signposted as Heinz Field. From there, follow Reedsdale to the second set of traffic lights and turn left onto Allegheny Avenue, which becomes North Shore Drive.
If arriving from the Turnpike, take the Monroeville Exit towards Pittsburgh. You will find yourself on I-376, which you must follow until taking Exit 70C (North Shore Ramp/Fort Duquesne Bridge).
Keep left on Fort Duquesne Bridge and take the Heinz Field (North Shore) exit.
If arriving on an event day, it is strongly recommended you use directions to the specific lot at which you are parking. Further information, as well as details of recommended alternate routes to avoid the worst of game day congestion, can be found here.
Where To Park Near Heinz Field
There is ample parking in the vicinity of Heinz Field.
The stadium strongly recommends that you book your parking beforehand. You can do this via Alco Parking, which operates many of the lots in the area, or via parking sites like Parking Panda and SpotHero.
One parking option is the Champions Garage, located on the corner of Tony Dorsett Drive and West General Robinson Street.
There are also a number of color-coded parking lots and garages, including Gold 1A Lot, Red 7A Lot, and Green 21 Lot. Prices in any of these lots for a regular season Steelers game start at $35 per car.
Parking is generally cheaper for Pittsburgh Panthers games. Tailgating is permitted in all open-air parking lots, beginning five hours prior to kickoff.
Another option is to park in one of the many parking garages and lots in Downtown Pittsburgh, which are significantly cheaper than parking in North Shore.
They range in price, but several are available under $10. From Downtown, you can either choose to walk or use public transport to get to the stadium.
Heinz Field Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is It Hard To Kick Field Goals At Heinz Field?
Heinz Field has historically been one of the toughest places to kick in the NFL. The stadium’s location on the river bank exposes it to the worst of the elements, including swirling winds, which isn’t helped by its open-sided design.
Why Is It Called Heinz Field?
The stadium is named for local company H.J Heinz, which secured a twenty-year deal for the naming rights in 2001. With the recent expiration of that deal, the future name of the stadium remains unclear.
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