Pittsburgh Steelers

How to Get There

The main airport in the city is Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) which is primarily serviced by Southwest and American as well as having many flights from Delta and United. The airport is on the outskirts of the city 20 miles from the stadium, but the drive is straightforward if driving or using rideshare. Another option is the 28X bus that picks up from the airport and goes to downtown Pittsburgh South of the river only a couple miles from Heinz Field. The trip lasts just about 40-45 minutes and tickets can be purchased for only $2.75.

Fans in nearby cities or states can take advantage of train travel into Pittsburgh Union Station. The train station, primarily served by Amtrak, is in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh just a mile from the stadium. This is an excellent option for fans who are able and do not want the hassle of a long drive from the airport and want to save money and time with arriving at a convenient location.

Where to Stay

Budget Options

Residence Inn by Marriott Pittsburgh North Shore - The Residence Inn is an all-suite property downtown that is focused on extended stays but can also be a great options for groups and families. The suites have separate sleeping, living, and dining areas, including full kitchens and sofa beds. The hotel has good options for budget and family travelers with a free hot breakfast served daily and large rooms including 2 bedroom suites. The hotel has a perfect location across the street from PNC Park just a couple blocks from Heinz Field and a short walk to the river. Amenities are simple but there is an outdoor patio with seating and a fire pit as well as an indoor pool to relax. The Residence Inn is a nice, simple hotel in a comfortable setting that is a good option for families looking for spacious rooms and fans looking to be as close to the stadium as possible.

Hyatt Place Pittsburgh - North Shore - The Hyatt Place sits between Heinz Field and PNC Park and is the closest hotel to the stadium. In addition to the good location, the hotel provides a free shuttle service to popular local attractions. The hotel makes the most of the location with many rooms having a view of PNC Park which is a fun experience for football fans who want to enjoy the unique setting with the baseball stadium next door. Rooms are spacious with nice bedding and a "cozy corner" featuring a sofa bed, which can be great for families as the sofa bed is even included in some rooms with two queens. The hotel offers a free breakfast daily, and although that is the only on-site food option, there is a bar that serves as a coffee bar throughout the day and serves alcohol at night. The Hyatt is a good option for a simple, yet nice budget hotel with plenty of space, and is best for people focused on location while still having a comfy room to return to.

Higher-End Options

Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel - The Renaissance is an upscale, luxury hotel situated right on the south side of the Allegheny River, across the Roberto Clemente bridge and a few blocks from Heinz Field. The hotel is built in a remodeled 1906 building and is a modern, sleek hotel that has still kept the feel of the original building. In addition to the riverfront location and being near the stadium, the hotel is in the middle of the city's cultural district with many theaters and concert halls nearby. The hotel has two restaurants with unique menus in a classy yet trendy environment, and there is a barber shop and beauty parlor that helps give it an old school feel. Rooms are spacious with large ceilings and sitting areas with some having river views, and there are club rooms available with lounge access. The Renaissance is an excellent urban getaway with luxurious rooms for guests who want a great location for city access and walks along the river at an upscale hotel with an old-school feel.

Hotel Fairmont Pittsburgh - The Fairmont aims to provide the most in luxury and is one of the highest-end hotels in the city. The hotel has a number of different rooms and suites with comfortable bedding and sleek design, with views of either PNC Park or Mt. Washington. The hotel has offerings for guests who want to be active or relax, with a full-service spa with a wide variety of treatments on site and BMW bike rentals for those who want to explore the city. There are some amenities catering to families with kids welcome gifts available to order with a reservation and board games that can be delivered to the room. There are two restaurants on site, with the main restaurant Andy's the more higher end with a full cocktail bar and dinner menu and live Jazz music Friday and Saturday nights. The Fairmont gives guests a luxurious hotel with a lot to do on site and nearby, and has many options for families who want a high-end hotel with plenty of activities in the middle of the city.

Nearby Activities

Pregame Food and Drink

There are options for fans to eat and drink on both sides of the river, with some great food options downtown for fans coming from that direction and several convenient options right near the ballpark. On the downtown side, fans wanting a relaxed, sit-down restaurant in a nicer location than a bar should visit Gaucho Parrilla Argentina. The South American flavor provides a nice departure from the mostly American restaurants in the area, with wood fire-grilled meats and Latin sides in an intimate setting with patio seating. Another option for fans coming from the downtown side is Meat & Potatoes, just across the bridge from the stadium area. The gastropub serves simple new American cuisine with a popular brunch menu perfect for a meal before a day game. There is also a unique cocktail menu is a modern setting to enjoy before heading to a football game.

There are a couple of good places to drink and eat on the North Shore area of the city within a five minute walk of Heinz Field. Mullen's Bar & Grill is a chain sports bar in the area with this location just down the street from the stadium. It is a classic sports bar with beers, standard pub fare, and a large number of TVs, as well as having outdoor seating on its large patio. It is a good place for out-of-towners to visit as it has a local Pittsburgh feel and flair to get the most out of a visit to the city. Beer lovers looking for a bit more of a relaxed vibe should visit Southern Tier Brewery. Southern Tier is in an excellent location just a block north of the river and just east of Heinz Field. The brewery has a massive outdoor seating area with picnic tables as well as a spacey inside serving over 30 beers plus wine and cocktails, and a full American food menu including daily specials. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is just west of the stadium near many stadium parking lots and can be a fun spot for fans who want to eat, drink, and gamble all in one place for a full day of entertainment before or after a game.

Getting to the Event

Heinz Field is well located just across the river from downtown Pittsburgh in both a walkable area and close to popular areas. There are many walking paths and simply enjoyable areas near the river and coupled with cooler weather in Pittsburgh helps making walking both easy but a fun way to get to the game. Fans traveling from out of town who are able to walk from downtown can enjoy crossing the iconic Roberto Clemente Bridge on the way to the game. If fans are driving from further away there are plenty of cheap parking options near the stadium and street parking a bit further away. Parking is reasonably priced throughout and the sights on a walk mentioned above give driving fans a good option to park a bit further away and walk a few blocks along the river to the game.

The city of Pittsburgh offers an incredible service with the T zone, an area of downtown where the light rail system is completely free. Fans staying or parking in downtown can take a quick ride on the light rail and get off at the Allegheny Station right at the stadium. Another less traditional method of public transit is the Gateway Clipper, a ferry that crosses all 3 rivers in the area on the way to the ballpark. It is not the cheapest or quickest option, but is an incredibly unique and fun way to arrive to a football game and can be a fun experience for a group of visiting fans. The ferry is boarded and drops off at the Station Square Dock just south of the stadium.

Where to Sit

Visiting fans should sit in sections 109-112 behind the visiting sideline with rows Y-HH in the top half of the section offering the best views. Visiting fans can also save some money and sit in sections 125-127 which are above the visiting team's tunnel and are cheaper than sideline seats, but they are closer to the Steeler's sideline so the atmosphere may be less friendly. Fans looking for a premium experience should sit directly above the sideline seats in sections 209-211 in the club level featuring indoor lounges, premium dining, wide seats that also have more legroom in front, and a perfectly elevated view of the field (though row A, the front row, should be avoided due to obstructions in front). This is the best club option, but the North Club and Field Club are different club sections with the North Club above the end zone and not having quite the same view, while the Field Club offers excellent up-close seats in the opposite end zone which are great for some fans but for the price the 200s club offers the most value. Families coming to a game should sit in section 120 rows BB-HH which is the family area where alcohol is prohibited and it is located in the corner end zone with a pretty good view of the field and head-on to the large scoreboard. Some of the best value seats can be found in sections 524-527 in the upper deck above the end zone. These seats are some of the cheapest in the stadium and the front half of the section offers good views of the field as well as great overlooking views of the bridges, rivers, and Pittsburgh skyline which is fun for a first-timer to look out at during a game. Another option Heinz Field offers is general admission/standing room only tickets. Without having a real seat, these are the cheapest tickets in the stadium, and can either stand in the designated sections in the top corners, or go to the Ford Fan Zone on the lower level behind the end zone, where views are limited but it is a fun, social area with plenty of activities before and during the game.