View from the Visitors' Side: Heinz Field

Heinz Field, Where the Steelers Play Ketchup

Coming into Pittsburg from the southwest, you first catch a glimpse of the field as you emerge from a tunnel – how appropriate! There it is, in glowing, garish yellow, right on the river front. It’s a tall stadium, horseshoe shaped, and open on the end facing the river. Did they run out of money or just know they couldn’t sell out tickets if they had seats all around their stadium? They filled in the empty space with a scoreboard array that pictures just don’t do justice. Not only is there a tacky Heinz label right in the center, but there are giant ketchup bottles on both sides. When the Steelers have the ball, the caps of these giant bottles open up. If the Steelers make it into the Red Zone, then the jumbotron animates the ketchup pouring into it to create the Red Zone screen. Words escape me.

Our seats were great, on the Club level at the 40. Fans around us were fairly tolerant of the cheering and victory-song-singing of the approx 8% Bears fans in the stadium. Toward the end of the game, Steelers fans were getting pretty frustrated, and unhappy with the constant Bears celebrations. They love their team – until they are hopelessly behind, at which point they head for the door like a stampeding herd of buffalo.