History of Acrisure Stadium in Timeline
Acrisure Stadium, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and the Pittsburgh Panthers (ACC). It opened in 2001, replacing Three Rivers Stadium, and was initially known as Heinz Field. In 2022, Acrisure acquired the naming rights after Kraft Heinz declined to renew their contract. The stadium is a key landmark in Pittsburgh's North Shore neighborhood and a prominent venue for football and other events.
1970: Steelers and Pirates Shared Three Rivers Stadium
From 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates shared Three Rivers Stadium, setting the stage for future stadium developments.
1972: Steelers Sell Out Every Home Game Since 1972 Season
As of 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers have sold out every home game since the 1972 season.
1972: Steelers Home Game Sellout Streak Begins
In 1972, the Steelers began a streak of selling out most of their home games, a tradition that continues to this day.
1997: "Regional Renaissance Initiative" Rejection
In 1997, a proposed sales tax increase to fund Heinz Field, PNC Park, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center was rejected in a referendum known as the "Regional Renaissance Initiative".
July 9, 1998: Plan B Approval
On July 9, 1998, Plan B, an alternate funding proposal, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board, allocating $233 million for Heinz Field.
June 1999: Ground Broken for Stadium Construction
In June 1999, ground was broken for the construction of the stadium, which was designed with Pittsburgh's steel production history in mind.
June 18, 1999: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Heinz Field
On June 18, 1999, the groundbreaking ceremony for Heinz Field was co-hosted by the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh, marking the official start of construction.
2000: End of Shared Stadium Era
In 2000, the Steelers and Pirates' shared use of Three Rivers Stadium came to an end, leading to discussions about building separate facilities.
June 2001: H. J. Heinz Company Purchases Naming Rights
In June 2001, H. J. Heinz Company secured the naming rights to the stadium, agreeing to pay the Steelers $57 million through 2021 in a nod to "Heinz 57."
June 2001: Kentucky Bluegrass Laid on Field
In June 2001, Kentucky Bluegrass was installed on the field, at half the height of most NFL field's grass. The field is heated from below to maintain a temperature of around 62°F to promote year-round growth.
August 18, 2001: 'N Sync Concert
On August 18, 2001, 'N Sync hosted a concert, marking the first event held at Heinz Field. They were also the last band to perform at the Steelers' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium.
August 25, 2001: Pre-Season Game Against Detroit Lions
On August 25, 2001, the Steelers played a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions, winning 20-7 before 57,829 spectators.
September 2001: First Football Game Hosted
In September 2001, the stadium hosted its first football game, marking a significant milestone in its history.
2001: No Midfield Logo During Overlapping Seasons
From 2001, there was typically no midfield logo when both Pitt and the Steelers were in season; the Steelers had their logo painted on the sidelines when Pitt's football season was ongoing and transferred it to midfield after Pitt's football season ended.
2001: Stadium Opens as Heinz Field
In 2001, the stadium opened as Heinz Field, marking a new era for Pittsburgh's sports scene after the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium.
2001: End Zones Painted Athletic Gold
In 2001, when Acrisure Stadium opened, both end zones were painted athletic gold during Steelers home games, with "PITTSBURGH" on the north side and "Steelers" on the south side. Either "Steelers" or "Panthers" was painted in the end zone, depending on the game, during the first three years.
2001: Performances by Various Artists
Since its opening in 2001, Heinz Field has hosted performances by various bands and artists, including NSYNC, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and LeAnn Rimes.
2001: Opening of Heinz Field with Sony JumboTron
Upon opening in 2001, Heinz Field featured a 27 by 96 foot Sony JumboTron, then the largest scoreboard in the NFL.
2002: Changes to End Zone Design
For the 2002 Steelers regular season, the area covered by gold paint was reduced to just around the words. The design for the 2002 Wild Card matchup replaced the white letter outlines with athletic gold paint and removed it everywhere else.
2002: Pittsburgh Marathon Finish Line at Heinz Field
In 2002, the Pittsburgh Marathon altered its course to conclude at Heinz Field, allowing competitors to finish the race on the field.
2003: Steelers vs. Eagles Preseason Game
In 2003, the Steelers played the Philadelphia Eagles in a preseason game with plain diagonal white lines in the South end zone. Although the Steelers lost the game 21–16, team president Dan Rooney liked the look of the South end zone being "plain", and decided to bring it back the next year.
2003: High Attendance for Panthers Games
In 2003, the average attendance for Pittsburgh Panthers games at the stadium reached a high of 59,197 people per game.
2003: Desso GrassMaster Installed
In 2003, the synthetic-enhanced Desso GrassMaster was installed at Acrisure Stadium, after multiple re-surfacings of the field. This installation led to ongoing debate over the field's surface quality.
2004: Wordmark Designs Flipped in Paint Color
Beginning in 2004, the wordmark designs were flipped in paint color, with "PITTSBURGH" in the North and "Steelers" in the South now athletic gold. Diagonal white lines were also added in the South end zone during the college portion of the season.
2005: Pittsburgh Wine Festival at Heinz Field
In 2005, Heinz Field hosted the Pittsburgh Wine Festival, which was attended by over 2,000 people.
2007: Heinz Ketchup Bottle Celebration Recognized
In 2007, ESPN recognized the "tipping" of the oversized Heinz ketchup bottles atop the scoreboard as one of the top ten touchdown celebrations in the NFL.
2007: Heinz Field Ranked Among NFL's Best
In 2007, Heinz Field was ranked as one of the best stadiums in the NFL by both ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated, consistently placing second behind Lambeau Field.
2007: Great Hall Named Best Concourse
In 2007, the Great Hall at Acrisure Stadium was recognized as the best concourse at an NFL stadium by Bill Evans in an article for ESPN.com.
2007: Low Attendance for Panthers Games
In 2007, the average attendance for Pittsburgh Panthers games at the stadium dropped to a low of 33,315 people per game.
2007: Deteriorated Field Conditions During Dolphins-Steelers Game
In the 2007 Dolphins-Steelers Monday Night Football match, the surface conditions had become so deteriorated from the rain and gameplay that the field grid of hash marks, yard lines, mid-field logo, and wordmarks in both end zones were barely visible throughout the game.
February 2008: Steelers decide to keep the Desso GrassMaster surface
In February 2008, the Steelers announced that they would keep the Desso GrassMaster surface, despite ongoing debate and criticism over the field conditions.
2008: Steelers Average Ticket Price
Entering the 2008 season, the Steelers average ticket price of $69.47 was the 15th highest out of the NFL's 32 teams.
January 2009: Grassmaster Surface Removed and Replaced
In January 2009, the Grassmaster surface was removed and replaced with the old sod that had been placed on top of the Grassmaster surface for the AFC Championship game later that month.
May 28, 2010: Heinz Field to host 2011 NHL Winter Classic
On May 28, 2010, the National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Heinz Field would host the 2011 NHL Winter Classic.
December 2010: Steelers Intend to Add Seating
In December 2010, the Steelers notified the Pittsburgh Stadium Authority of their intention to add up to 4,000 seats to the lower southern end of the stadium.
2010: Panthers Game Season Ticket Prices
For the 2010 season, season ticket prices for Panthers games ranged from a maximum of $295 per club seat with required donations per seat between $250 and $500 depending on location, to as low as $87 per seat with no required donation for upper end zone sections.
2010: No Midfield Logo During Overlapping Seasons
Through 2010, there was typically no midfield logo when both Pitt and the Steelers were in season; the Steelers had their logo painted on the sidelines when Pitt's football season was ongoing and transferred it to midfield after Pitt's football season ended.
January 1, 2011: 2011 NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field
On January 1, 2011, the NHL Winter Classic was played at Heinz Field between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. The Capitals won 3-1. Jackie Evancho sang the Star Spangled Banner before Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, and Mario Lemieux dropped the ceremonial puck. The game achieved the highest ratings for an NHL contest since 1996 and for a regular season game since 1975. It was also the first night Classic and the first to use CableCam technology.
July 15, 2011: American Idol Auditions at Heinz Field
On July 15, 2011, Heinz Field hosted auditions for the 2011 season of American Idol, after Pittsburgh was selected as one of six cities for the auditions.
August 6, 2011: Filming of The Dark Knight Rises at Heinz Field
On August 6, 2011, Heinz Field was used as the home field for the Gotham Rogues during the filming of The Dark Knight Rises. Approximately 15,000 unpaid extras were present at the stadium during the filming.
2011: Cooperation on Midfield Logos
As of the 2011 season, Pitt and the Steelers in cooperation have their respective logos at midfield for their own homes games, being interchanged frequently.
2011: Seating Added for NHL Winter Classic
In 2011, seating was added in the lower southern end of the stadium for the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, which had an attendance of 68,111.
2011: 2011 NHL Winter Classic
In 2011, the stadium hosted the NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, marking its first major outdoor hockey event.
April 12, 2012: Steelers Seek Approval to Expand Seating
On April 12, 2012, the Steelers confirmed they would seek approval from the NFL to expand seating by 3,000.
August 4, 2012: Women's Football Alliance National Championship Game
On August 4, 2012, Heinz Field hosted the Women's Football Alliance's National Championship Game, becoming the first NFL stadium to host a title game for any women's football league.
2012: Heinz Field in "The Dark Knight Rises"
In 2012, Heinz Field appeared in the film "The Dark Knight Rises" as the home field for the Gotham Rogues.
September 8, 2013: Quickest Score in NFL History
On September 8, 2013, the quickest score in NFL history occurred at Heinz Field during the Steelers season opener against the Tennessee Titans, with a safety scored on the opening kickoff just three seconds into the game.
May 19, 2014: Agreement to Add Seating
On May 19, 2014, after more than two years, the Steelers and the SEA came to an agreement to add about 3,000 seats to the venue.
July 27, 2014: Soccer Match
On July 27, 2014, Heinz Field hosted a soccer match between A.C. Milan and Manchester City as part of the 2014 International Champions Cup, with Manchester City winning 5–1.
December 2014: Final Number of Added Seats Determined
In December 2014, after contractors surveyed the complex, the final number of 2,390 added seats with five additional suites including more parking, restrooms and concessions was determined to increase capacity to a total of 68,400.
August 16, 2015: Women's International Exhibition Match
On August 16, 2015, Heinz Field hosted a women's international exhibition match between the United States and Costa Rica, resulting in an 8–0 victory for the United States. It set a new attendance record for a standalone women's friendly in the U.S. with 44,028 spectators.
2015: Seating Put in Place
By the summer of 2015, the seating was put in place at Acrisure Stadium.
2015: Kraft Foods Group Acquisition by Heinz
In 2015, Heinz acquired Kraft Foods Group to form Kraft Heinz Company, but the stadium's name remained unchanged.
September 10, 2016: Pitt Panthers Defeat Penn State Nittany Lions
On September 10, 2016, the then-largest crowd of 69,983 to ever see a sporting event in Pittsburgh watched the Pitt Panthers defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions, 42–39 as they renewed their rivalry in football.
2016: Previous Attendance Record Set
In 2016, the previous attendance record was held by the Penn State versus Pitt game with 69,983 in attendance.
2017: 2017 NHL Stadium Series Game
In 2017, the stadium hosted the NHL Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers, adding another outdoor hockey event to its history.
October 7, 2018: Steelers Win 100th Regular Season Game at Heinz Field
On October 7, 2018, the Steelers won their 100th regular season game at Heinz Field, marking a significant milestone in their history at the stadium.
2018: Steelers Sell Out Every Home Game Since 1972 Season
As of 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers have sold out every home game since the 1972 season.
January 2021: Kraft-Heinz Renews Naming Rights for One More Year
In January 2021, Kraft-Heinz decided to renew the naming rights for Heinz Field for just one more year, ensuring the name would remain through at least the end of 2021.
2021: Kraft Heinz Declines to Renew Naming Rights
In 2021, Kraft Heinz, the owners of the Heinz brand, declined to renew the naming rights for Heinz Field, casting uncertainty on the stadium's future name.
2021: Pittsburgh CLO presents "The Wizard of Oz"
In 2021, Pittsburgh CLO presented a production of "The Wizard of Oz" from July 8 to 10 on the field at Acrisure Stadium.
2021: End of Initial Naming Rights Deal
In 2021, the initial naming rights deal with Heinz was set to expire, leading to discussions about a potential renewal.
July 10, 2022: Heinz Ends Naming Rights Deal
On July 10, 2022, it was reported that Heinz would not sign a new deal with the Steelers, ending their 21-year business arrangement.
July 11, 2022: Acrisure Buys Naming Rights
On July 11, 2022, after unsuccessfully trying to find another local company to purchase the naming rights, Acrisure, a Michigan-based insurance company, bought the naming rights to the stadium.
September 1, 2022: Backyard Brawl Sets Attendance Record
On September 1, 2022, the Backyard Brawl between the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University set a new record for the largest sporting event in Pittsburgh history, with an attendance of 70,622 fans.
2022: Naming Rights Uncertainty
As the naming rights were allowed to expire in 2022, the future name of Heinz Field was uncertain, though the Steelers expressed optimism about reaching another extension with Kraft-Heinz.
2022: Increased Home Attendance During Winning Season
During the 2022 season, Pitt averaged 54,710 in home attendance during the 9-4 season.
2022: Acrisure Purchases Naming Rights
In 2022, Acrisure secured the naming rights for the stadium after being green-lit by the City of Pittsburgh, ushering in a new identity for the venue.
June 17, 2023: Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour Performance
On June 17, 2023, Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour performance drew a crowd of 73,117 people, setting a new record for the highest-ticketed event in Pittsburgh's history.
2023: Decreased Home Attendance During Losing Season
During the 2023 season, Pitt averaged 48,122 in home attendance during the 3-9 season.
2023: Trough Urinals Replaced
In 2023, the trough urinals in the men's restrooms were replaced with more conventional individual urinals with privacy dividers, addressing concerns about privacy.
2024: Donald J. Trump Visit
In 2024, President Donald J. Trump visited Acrisure Stadium for a Steelers game during his presidential campaign.
2024: Stadium Cost Equivalent Update
In 2024, the stadium's initial cost of $281 million was equivalent to $499 million, reflecting the impact of inflation over the years.
2025: Acrisure Stadium Hosts Supercross and Monster Jam
In 2025, Acrisure Stadium hosted Supercross for the first time ever, along with Monster Jam.
2031: Steelers Agreement to Stay in Pittsburgh Until at Least 2031
The Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh city officials to stay in the city until at least 2031, ensuring the team's presence in the area for decades to come.
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