The stadium is located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on the
bank of the Ohio River, near its confluence with the Allegheny and Monongahela
Rivers. Many hotels (Marriott Residence Inn, Hyatt Place, Marriott Springhill
Suites, Holiday Inn Express), bars/restaurants (Jerome Bettis Grille, The
Foundry, Tilted Kilt, Bar Louie, Burgatory, Little Red Corvette ‘90s Café, Hyde
Park Prime Steakhouse, Clark Bar), and entertainment venues (Stage AE, Tequila Cowboy,
Wanne-Bee’s) are nearby, as well as the Carnegie Science Center and the Rivers
Casino. You can arrive at the stadium by ferry (from Station Square), water
“limo”/taxi, T (subway to the Allegheny Station stop), by boat, on foot, Uber,
taxi, pedicab, or by car (however, most of the nearby parking is pre-sold with
ticket packages).
Heinz Field holds about 70,000 fans in a variety of seats,
club boxes, luxury boxes, and standing room spots. Additional seats were added
in 2015 below the clever scoreboard towards the river; the scoreboard features
35-foot-high Heinz ketchup bottle replicas that open up and “pour” ketchup down
the scoreboard when the team is in the “Red Zone”. Some seats enjoy views of
the Pittsburgh skyline. Most regular folding seats are made of a bright yellow
molded plastic, with backs and small armrest dividers. Cupholders are attached
to the seat in front of you. Metal bench seating exists in the high upper end
zone. Some lower-level seats are positioned under the overhang of the upper
levels, which offers protection on rainy (or hot and sunny) days. Escalators,
elevators, and ramps are available to transfer between levels. Due to security
measures (metal detectors, bag checks), you are advised to use the gate printed
on your ticket. Be sure to leave large backpacks or handbags at home. Because
this is an NFL stadium, you must adhere to the clear-bag policy; check the
website for details. If you bring a bag that is too large, you will be refused
entry with it.
Stadium tours, which last about two hours but are not
available on game days, include access to the field, locker room, press box,
luxury box, club suites, security office. Heinz Field does not limit the number
of people who can take a tour, but they break larger groups up so that the tour
is manageable for both guide and participants.
The stadium contains souvenir stands/shops and many
counter-service food outlets (branded food includes Burgatory, Quaker Steak
& Lube, Primati Brothers, as well as other vendors). Alchoholic beverages
are served at both college and NFL games. Sometimes vendors are instructed to
remove and retain the screw-top caps of water and soda bottles (presumably so
that fans cannot throw either the caps or full bottles). Many TVs (800 of
them!) are available in the access and concession areas of the stadium so that
you do not miss the action. Officially, smoking is prohibited, although it is
more of a “don’t ask-don’t tell” policy, and sometimes smokers congregate
toward the backs of the decks. The stadium has many restrooms, and it is rare
to wait in line at most of the larger facilities.
The stadium features the FedEx Great Hall (of fame) that
contains Steelers photographs, memorabilia, and six Lombardi trophies from their
Super Bowl victories. Past football stars like Tony Dorsett, Joe Namath, Joe
Montana, Mike Ditka, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, and Mean Joe Greene are
featured. Some University of Pittsburgh mementos are also displayed.
If you have the chance, be sure to visit Heinz Field, either
for a game or just a tour.
September 2018:
No comments:
Post a Comment