Pitt Stadium
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.
View from southwest corner in 1998 | |
| Location | Terrace Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40.444°N 79.962°W |
| Owner | University of Pittsburgh |
| Operator | University of Pittsburgh |
| Capacity | 56,500 (c. 1949–1999) 69,400 (1925–c. 1949) |
| Surface | AstroTurf (1990–1999) SuperTurf (1984–1989) AstroTurf (1970–1983) Natural grass (1925–1969) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 7, 1924 |
| Opened | September 1, 1925 |
| Closed | November 13, 1999 |
| Demolished | December 1999 |
| Construction cost | $2.1 million ($35 million in 2022) |
| Architect | W. S. Hindman |
| Main contractors | Turner 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) | |
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.