Pitt Stadium
The second home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they played home games from 1964 to 1970.
Pitt Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in the eastern United States, located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1925, it served primarily as the home of the university's Pittsburgh Panthers football team through 1999. It also served as the second home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League (NFL) franchise.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Terrace Street; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Groundbreaking
- August 7, 1924
- Opened
- September 1, 1925
- Closed
- November 13, 1999
- Demolished
- December 1999
- Owner
- University of Pittsburgh
- Surface
- AstroTurf (1990–1999)
- SuperTurf (1984–1989)
- AstroTurf (1970–1983)
- Natural grass (1925–1969)
- Architect
- W. S. Hindman
Lore & Background
The NFL's Steelers played home games at Forbes Field from their 1933 inception to 1957. They first played at Pitt Stadium in 1942, in an exhibition match for U.S.O. charity against the Fort Knox 'Armoraiders' on November 15. From 1958 to 1963, the Steelers split home games between Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium. Fans were able to purchase season ticket packages for one site or the other. In 1964, the Steelers began to play home games exclusively at Pitt Stadium, which they continued until moving to the new Three Rivers Stadium in 1970. Of historic note, the iconic photo of New York Giants quarterback Y. A. Tittle, helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling, was taken at Pitt Stadium in 1964 following a Giants' loss to the Steelers on September 20. The photo, taken by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photographer Morris Berman, now hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Reader's Guide
For the lifelong Steelers supporter, Pitt Stadium represents more than just a venue; it is the spiritual birthplace of the franchise's golden age. While the physical structure no longer stands, its memory serves as the foundation upon which the modern dynasty was built. To understand the soul of the Steelers, one must appreciate the grit required to play in this open-air arena, where winter winds whipped off the Monongahela and the concrete steps offered little shelter from the elements. It was a place where loyalty was forged in the cold, and every victory felt like a triumph over the city's harsh realities, not just an opponent on the field.
More in Stadium & Culture
Elsewhere in Pittsburgh Steelers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced