Pitt Stadium
View from southwest corner in 1998
Map
LocationTerrace Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′38″N 79°57′43″W / 40.444°N 79.962°W / 40.444; -79.962
OwnerUniversity of Pittsburgh
OperatorUniversity of Pittsburgh
Capacity56,500 (c. 1949–1999)
69,400 (1925–c. 1949)
SurfaceAstroTurf (1990–1999)
SuperTurf (1984–1989)
AstroTurf (1970–1983)
Natural grass (1925–1969)
Construction
Broke groundAugust 7, 1924
OpenedSeptember 1, 1925
ClosedNovember 13, 1999
DemolishedDecember 1999
Construction cost$2.1 million
($35 million in 2022[1])
ArchitectW. S. Hindman
Main contractorsTurner Construction
Tenants
Pittsburgh Panthers (NCAA)
football, soccer, track & field (1925–1999)
basketball (1925–1951)
Baseball (1939–1969)
Carnegie Tech Tartans (NCAA) (1929–1943)
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) (1942, 1963–1969)
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (1946–1958)

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 was also used for other sporting events, including basketball, soccer, baseball, track and field, rifle, and gymnastics.

Designed by University of Pittsburgh graduate W. S. Hindman, the $2.1 million stadium was built after the seating capacity of the Panthers' previous home, Forbes Field, was deemed inadequate in light of the growing popularity of college football. Pitt Stadium also served as the second home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League (NFL) franchise. After demolition, the Pittsburgh Panthers football team played home games at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000, before moving to the new Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium) in 2001, where the Panthers have played their home games ever since.

History

The Pittsburgh Panthers played home football games at the Pittsburgh Pirates' Forbes Field from 1909 to 1924. In the 1910s and 1920s, Pitt football achieved great success under head coach Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner, completing several undefeated seasons and claiming several national championships. The popularity of college football was rising across the country and in Pittsburgh. Subsequently, due to tickets reserved for alumni and students, the general public's demand for tickets to see Pitt play at Forbes Field surpassed supply. In the early 1920s, the university administration decided to build an on-campus stadium to alleviate the seating problem. It purchased nine acres of land adjacent to university property for the Pitt Stadium site; university and private funding provided $2.1 million for site acquisition and construction. W. S. Hindman, a Pitt graduate, was the stadium's designer and engineer.

View of the stadium in 1925

The Turner Construction Company built the stadium from August 7, 1924 to September 1, 1925. The 791-by-691-foot (241 by 211 m) venue was designed to hold a capacity of 69,400, with provisions for an upper deck that could provide for an additional 30,000 seats.[2] On September 26, 1925, Pitt played its first football game at the new Pitt Stadium,[3] a 26–0 victory over Washington and Lee.

Starting in 1929, the stadium also hosted the football team of the Carnegie Tech Tartans, which played their home games there on a split schedule with the Panthers until 1943.[4][5]

By the 1940s, new safety rules from the city fire marshal prohibited temporary bleacher seats on the rim of the stadium and in the track area. In order to provide comfort to larger spectators, the Department of Athletics also widened seats from 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm), reducing the final capacity to 56,500.[6] The original grass surface was replaced with AstroTurf in 1970. SuperTurf was installed in 1984, but after six years AstroTurf returned. In the late 1970s, the original 17 miles (27 km) of wood seating was replaced with metal bleachers. Temporary lighting was installed at Pitt Stadium in 1985, but was made permanent before the 1987 season. A scoreboard was installed at the eastern end of the stadium in 1995; this was followed in 1997 with the installation of the PantherVision videoboard, which allowed fans to see instant replays of the games.[7] The highest attended game was in 1938, when 68,918 saw the Panthers defeat Fordham 24–13 on October 29.[8][9][10]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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,[13] now hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In the late 1980s, then athletic director Ed Bozik unveiled a massive overhaul plan for Pitt Stadium that entailed gutting the stadium and rebuilding it from the ground up. In addition to luxury boxes, the $55 million renovation would have added a dome to the stadium.[14]

By the mid-1990s, it was apparent that Pitt Stadium needed further renovations to keep up with the times. When the cost of the needed renovations proved prohibitive, athletic director Steve Pederson decided to demolish the stadium and replace it with a long-awaited convocation center and basketball arena on its footprint.[15]

Pitt Stadium at the University of Pittsburgh prior to its last game — 1999

The final game at Pitt Stadium took place on November 13, 1999, when the Panthers defeated Notre Dame 37–27.[16] The final touchdown in Pitt Stadium was scored by Kevan Barlow at 7:06 pm, just minutes prior to fans rushing onto the field.[17] Some of the 60,190 spectators—the largest crowd in 16 years[18]—ran onto the field with nine seconds remaining in the game, tearing down both goal posts and removing pieces of turf.[19] The Panthers played their home games of the 2000 season at Three Rivers Stadium, before moving to Heinz Field in 2001. Demolition of Pitt Stadium began in December 1999. Concrete from the stadium was ground and left on site for use in the Petersen Events Center and student housing which was built at the site; construction began in June 2000 and the Petersen Events Center opened up in April 2002.[20]

The Pitt Pavilion

The Pitt Pavilion, located beneath the ramps inside Gate 2 of Pitt Stadium, was the home of the Panthers basketball team from January 6, 1925 (with a loss to Geneva College) to February 26, 1951 with a Backyard Brawl victory. The Pavilion contained both permanent and temporary bleachers for a capacity of approximately 4,000 spectators.[7] However, with only one dressing room, visiting teams were forced to use the visitors' football locker room to dress and then walk 60-yards outdoors to get to the basketball court.[21] Future coach John Wooden and Notre Dame's Moose Krause were basketball stars that played against the Panthers at the Pavilion. While there, the Panthers themselves featured several All-Americans, including Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt, and recorded the school's only undefeated season in 1928. On February 26, 1951, the Panthers won the final game at the Pavilion, defeating rival West Virginia 74-72 on a last-second shot by Scott Phillips, his only points in the game.[22] The basketball team moved to the Fitzgerald Field House for the 1951-52 season. The Pavilion also hosted WPIAL playoff games and pre-season games of the American Basketball League's Pittsburgh Rens. The Pitt Pavilion was removed in 1994 when ground was broken for the stadium's Duratz Athletic Complex.[23]

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Borghetti, E. J., ed. (1999). University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999. University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics. p. 212. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  3. ^ Hannum, Max E. (September 26, 1925). "New Pitt Stadium opened". Pittsburgh Press. p. 10.
  4. ^ Landucci, Fred (September 14, 1930). "Carnegie Tech: University of Pittsburgh Stadium football". Pittsburgh Press. p. 4, sports.
  5. ^ Landucci, Fred (March 19, 1946). "Tech chooses Forbes Field, schedule set". Pittsburgh Press. p. 22.
  6. ^ Alberts, Robert C. (1986). Pitt :the story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1987. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 222. ISBN 0-8229-1150-7. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  7. ^ a b Borghetti, E. J., ed. (1999). University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999. University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics. p. 213. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  8. ^ "76,000 persons - count 'em, 76,000 - are in this stadium picture". Pittsburgh Press. (photo). October 30, 1938. p. 1.
  9. ^ Smith, Chester L. (October 30, 1938). "Pitt's power 'explodes' late to down Rams, 24-13". Pittsburgh Press. p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ Borghetti, E. J., ed. (1999). University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999. University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics. p. 214. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  11. ^ Fortune, Dick (November 13, 1942). "Canteen tickets cut for children". Pittsburgh Press. p. 42.
  12. ^ Bouchette, Ed (1994). The Pittsburgh Steelers. Macmillan Publishers. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-312-11325-4.
  13. ^ Berman, Morris (September 21, 1964). "Story in pictures of how Tittle was racked up and injured". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (photos). p. 30.
  14. ^ Finder, Chuck (1989-11-20). "Pitt considering stadium dome". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  15. ^ "Pitt gets it right with Pederson's return".
  16. ^ Anderson, Shelly (14 November 1999). "Pitt comes up with a truly grand finale, stunning Notre Dame, 37-27". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  17. ^ Collier, Gene (14 November 1999). "Pitt Stadium Goes Out With A Bang". Post-Gazette. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  18. ^ Collier, Gene (14 November 1999). "Pitt Stadium goes out with a bang". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  19. ^ Ostendorf, Kristen; Michael A. Fuoco (14 November 1999). "Exuberant fans keep their cool after triumph". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  20. ^ Anderson, Shelly (12 November 1999). "End of an Era: Pitt Stadium's final game signals first step of many changes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  21. ^ Anderson, Shelly (1999-11-12). "Pitt Stadium was more than football field for Pitt athletics". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  22. ^ University of Pittsburgh basketball media guide (2009–2010) (PDF). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University of Pittsburgh. 2009. p. 192. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  23. ^ "Pitt 'Breaks Ground' In Stadium Renovation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. 1994-11-19. Retrieved 2010-02-02.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pitt Stadium.
Preceded byForbes Field Home of thePittsburgh Panthers football 1925–1999 Succeeded byThree Rivers Stadium Preceded byMotor Square Garden/Trees Gymnasium Home of thePittsburgh Panthers men's basketball 1925–1951 Succeeded byFitzgerald Field House Preceded byTrees Gymnasium Home of thePittsburgh Panthers women's basketball 1925–1927 Succeeded byFitzgerald Field House Preceded byForbes Field Home of thePittsburgh Steelers 1942, 1958–1969 Succeeded byThree Rivers Stadium
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