Steelers Now
With Acrisure Stadium nearly 30 years old, what does the future hold for the venue? Three Rivers Stadium was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home for 30 years before it was imploded for a new sparkling stadium on the North Shore.
The Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium opened in 1999, two years before Acrisure Stadium made its debut. The Titans’ new enclosed stadium is officially scheduled to open in February 2027. Likewise for the Cleveland Browns. Huntington Bank Field opened in 1999, and the Browns officially broke ground on their new $2.6 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio in April. The new stadium is scheduled to open in 2029.
According to former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, the Steelers are discussing what their next move with Acrisure Stadium is.
“I promise you, conversations are happening behind the scenes to figure out what the next move is,” Batch said on the The Snap Count podcast with former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex. “As the Rooneys are looking for an upgrade for their stadium. Which, rightfully so … what truly happens over the next five years because the North Shore was built around Acrisure and PNC Stadiums. Again, both of those stadiums are coming up on 30 years old. So we’ll see what happens.”
Essex thinks the Steelers will never leave the North Shore. Batch isn’t so sure.
“I’m going to stay silent on it,” Batch replied. “That’s all I’m going to say. All I know is, you’ve been around Pittsburgh whenever the Penguins moved [their practice facility] to Cranberry.”
The Steelers’ practice facility continuously receives poor grades in the NFLPA’s annual report card. So moving from the South Side seems more likely. The UPMC Rooney Sports Complex opened in 2000.
The biggest issue is that the Steelers just lack space at their South Side facility. Steelers president Art Rooney II even said during an interview with Jenna Harner of WPXI last year that they potentially have to look into a new facility.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Already Discussing Future Stadium Decision?
