A Steeler Fan’s Guide to Gameday in Pittsburgh
If you’re traveling to Pittsburgh for the home opener against the San Francisco 49ers on September 10th, I’m extremely jealous. I’m likely eying one of the December games this year (I enjoy the winter games in Pittsburgh). But, it can be overwhelming when you have absolutely no idea what to do leading up to the game, so here’s some pointers:
Standing in front of Acrisure Stadium in May of 2023. (Photo by Jason Newman)
Acrisure Stadium
The Steelers host their home games at Heinz Fie- I mean Acrisure Stadium, which is located at 100 Art Rooney Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. This is in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
PPG Place as seen from the Gateway Clipper Riverboat. (Photo by Jason Newman)
Driving and parking near the stadium can be nightmarish on gameday. If you have access to a car during your trip, I recommend using the Gateway Clipper’s gameday riverboat rides. You’ll get some unique views of the city and be dropped off right in front of the stadium. It’s a super cool way to arrive at the game and you’ll be able to park your car in Station Square near the Gateway Clipper’s dock.
If you’re coming from the downtown area and are looking for other forms of public transportation, check out the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website for more information on getting to and from the stadium safely.
If you must drive and insist on parking near the stadium, click here for more information on parking on the North Shore.
If you haven’t booked your hotel or Airbnb yet, you might consider staying near the North Shore so that you’re able to walk to and from the game. My best experiences at Steelers’ games in Pittsburgh have always been when I stay in the Manchester neighborhood located just north of the stadium and walk to the game. It’s an old, cool looking area and airbnbs here are extremely affordable. I try to make it a habit to check here for places to stay when I’m traveling to Pittsburgh for a game. Keep in mind, this puts you a considerable distance away from the downtown area. I still make the walk downtown from this neighborhood, but I wouldn’t blame anyone who wouldn’t want to.
Restaurants and Bars on the North Shore
Whether you are looking for great food, refreshing drinks, a fun atmosphere, or all of the above, there are plenty of cool spots to check out near Acrisure Stadium.
My favorite bar in the entire city of Pittsburgh is Southern Tier Brewery & Taphouse on North Shore Drive. Their food menu is pretty small, but the quality of the food is excellent. My favorite items on their menu include the heirloom tomato bruschetta, the pulled pork nachos, the potato and cheddar pierogies, and the cheesesteak “handheld”.
Their beer list is full of awesome, local craft beers and ciders. My personal favorites are the ‘8 Days a Week’ blonde ale and the ‘Berry Monkey’ sour tripel ale. This company is also a distillery, and they have a ‘Pumking’ pumpkin whiskey that is a must-have every time I’m in Pittsburgh. Just, please drink it responsibly, because that stuff is dangerously good.
Another one of my favorite places to go near the stadium is The Foundry, also located on North Shore Drive. I’ve been there three times, and admittedly, each time has been during brunch. So, I can’t give an honest opinion on their full menu. With that being said, their brunch menu is absolutely immaculate. Their drinks are also very good, and this place has amongst the best atmospheres of all the bars and restaurants on North Shore Drive (definitely more of a restaurant vibe just FYI).
Some of my other favorite food and drink spots near Acrisure Stadium include Burgatory and Bar Louie. Also, Shorty’s Pins x Pints is one of the coolest bars I’ve ever been to, but I’ve only ever been for drinks. Tequila Cowboy is a cool spot as well, however most of the local Pittsburghers that I have met avoid that place for some reason. All the places I’ve listed are within a reasonable walking distance and are just down the street from Acrisure Stadium.
Tailgating in The Burgh
My favorite part about going to Steelers games in Pittsburgh has to be tailgating with Steeler faithfuls. When you arrive in the areas surrounding the stadium, you’ll find tons of yinzers grilling out and drinking beer in preparation for the game. Bring a case of your favorite beer and don’t be scared to talk to folks and join in their festivities. The people of Pittsburgh are honestly some of the nicest people in the entire world.
Acrisure Stadium in December of 2022. (Photo by Jason Newman)
My go-to tailgate is the Terrible Tailgate put on by the Steeler Nation blog. Usually, for $25-50, you get a wristband that gives you access to all you can eat food and all you can drink beer and spirits, although that “donation” amount can fluctuate based on which game you’re attending and what amenities will be available that particular day. The home opener against the Niners will cost you $40 if this is what you want to do, and I recommend that you do. I’ve made so many good friends at the Terrible Tailgate, and every once in a while, a former Steeler will pop up over there to join Steeler Nation in the pregame partying.
Update (09/06/2023): Yesterday, I noticed some old tweets had resurfaced from one of the guys that runs the Terrible Tailgate that expressed some deeply racist and hurtful sentiments, specifically toward African Americans and Koreans. While I stand by what I said about having a blast every time I have attended the Terrible Tailgate, we can’t, as a society, allow these things to pass under the radar and not acknowledge them. I’ve decided to leave what I said about the tailgate prior to seeing these tweets. However, there are other options available that I will be giving a try this season. Stage AE on North Shore Drive is the Official host of the Pittsburgh Steelers tailgates. They host events prior to every Steelers home game. All parking lots in the North Shore area open five hours before every home game. Tailgating is permitted in all lots, except for garages. For more parking information and rules regarding tailgating, click here.
The Steelers seem primed for a BIG year and I’m so excited to share in our experiences as Pittsburgh lovers and Steeler fans this year. This team is going to be something special and cheering them on this year is gonna be an absolute pleasure. Always remember to celebrate and cheer for this team responsibly and with respect to others around you. Make sure you check out the Acrisure Stadium security guidelines page before gameday, so you know you’re operating within the rules while you’re there. Oh, and wave the hell out of your Terrible Towels.
Go Steelers!
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