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Heinz Field

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mdk2

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For the past 5-6 years, I would say Steelers have one of the worst home field advantages in the league.
1/4th of the stadium is empty almost every game, the majority of the fans at the game just sit on their hands a large portion of the game, and the amount of Raiders fans at that game was insane.
Heinz field is no longer a place that is tough for a team to come in and win. It's an embarrassment.

P.S. stop playing Renegade every game just for the sake of playing it.
 
Our coaching and staff have become soft for the last 10 years or so. The players have emulated that and the fans as well. HARD nose football isn't something you just draft then plug and play. You have to work at it and yes, draft the right players with that character.

Tomlin has never had that approach and I don't see that changing although we draft a player here and there with the right characteristics to be the hard nose football player that is needed.




Salute the nation
 
I like the comment about style we play, soft not big time hits.. The best example of this was yesterday when Ben threw to the TE Freiermuth, the kid was busting his butt to get the first down and three defenders came in and stopped him for half yard short, they hit him not shoulder tackle or push him down no they blew him up. When have we seen this in the team. We continue to grab a player and throw him over the body and how many times this has allowed a first down.
 
5,000 no shows is a bad look, especially for the home opener. Years ago a big part of the cheering was organic. The fans connected with the physical style of play on the field and the defense pumped up the crowd by raising their arms on just about every play. Now they have too many crowd cheering prompts and drown out any organic cheering with piped in music. Heinz Field isn't what it used to be, but at least it hasn't gotten as bad as PPG Arena where a playoff atmosphere mine as well be a Tuesday night game in November.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
5,000 no shows is a bad look, especially for the home opener. Years ago a big part of the cheering was organic. The fans connected with the physical style of play on the field and the defense pumped up the crowd by raising their arms on just about every play. Now they have too many crowd cheering prompts and drown out any organic cheering with piped in music. Heinz Field isn't what it used to be, but at least it hasn't gotten as bad as PPG Arena where a playoff atmosphere mine as well be a Tuesday night game in November.
Click to expand...
I think it is Covid concerns mixed in with older fans just staying home. I would like to see some of these fans come off their tickets if they aren't attending. Because there is plenty of people who like attending games.
 
mdk2 said:
For the past 5-6 years, I would say Steelers have one of the worst home field advantages in the league.
1/4th of the stadium is empty almost every game, the majority of the fans at the game just sit on their hands a large portion of the game, and the amount of Raiders fans at that game was insane.
Heinz field is no longer a place that is tough for a team to come in and win. It's an embarrassment.

P.S. stop playing Renegade every game just for the sake of playing it.
Click to expand...
Yep.

it’s a new generation of players/fans.
Renegade needs to go.

I don’t know how the Steelers are viewed locally in Pittsburgh, but they don’t seem as celebrated like generations prior
 
If the product is good, fans will respond. I am getting a little older but I remember the days of Cowher and Blitzburgh and the place was crazy loud. The Igloo days when Mario, Jagr, Coffey, Francis, and Barrasso were playing. When blue-collar fans packed the place just before management priced them out. Good god, it was loud. The building would shake. Even the Pirates in the McCutcheon, Burnett years, the playoffs were an awesome atmosphere at PNC Park.
Right now, Pittsburgh sports is going through a major transition. Ben is at the end for the Steelers. Franchise QBs are hard to find. Sid and Geno are coming to the end of their run for the Pens. Two of the best players in hockey. The Pirates, well are the Pirates. As long as Nutting owns that franchise they will never see the playoffs again. Hopefully, we won't be down for too long. No matter what I bleed black and gold. Always will.
 
OP... I didn't want to bring this up, but so obvious yesterday.
Start of the 2nd half almost looked like a Covid season. (a little exaggeration)

I was wondering if maybe you had to be vaccinated to attend and was the issue.
It was the f'n Raiders. It pissed me off seeing that.
 
mdk2 said:
For the past 5-6 years, I would say Steelers have one of the worst home field advantages in the league.
1/4th of the stadium is empty almost every game, the majority of the fans at the game just sit on their hands a large portion of the game, and the amount of Raiders fans at that game was insane.
Heinz field is no longer a place that is tough for a team to come in and win. It's an embarrassment.

P.S. stop playing Renegade every game just for the sake of playing it.
Click to expand...
A big reason the stadium was so empty a lot of the time was because half of the fans were waiting in line for hours to get food and drinks. Mr. OFTB went out at the beginning of the second quarter and was still 14 people back in line at halftime. I went to meet him and there were so many people in line at concessions that the concourse was packed like sardines. It was damn hot too and I feared there might be a stampede or trampling situation. Desperately short-staffed just like everyone else.

Raiders fans travel well too.
 
slashsteel said:
I think it is Covid concerns mixed in with older fans just staying home. I would like to see some of these fans come off their tickets if they aren't attending. Because there is plenty of people who like attending games.
Click to expand...
I think it's more of the cost of attending the game, traffic, etc. vs the comforts at home. Attendance hasn't been what it used to be at Heinz Field and that was before Covid.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
5,000 no shows is a bad look, especially for the home opener. Years ago a big part of the cheering was organic. The fans connected with the physical style of play on the field and the defense pumped up the crowd by raising their arms on just about every play. Now they have too many crowd cheering prompts and drown out any organic cheering with piped in music. Heinz Field isn't what it used to be, but at least it hasn't gotten as bad as PPG Arena where a playoff atmosphere mine as well be a Tuesday night game in November.
Click to expand...
Not saying you're wrong, but there is still technically a COVID pandemic going on. At least for this particular game and for a while, this could explain some no-shows. I was at the Ravens game in 2019, no Ben, and that stadium looked packed to me and it was raining that day.
 
Part of it is the softness of the team / coaching / franchise. A Part is the over-priced product, are you getting your money's worth as opposed to the entertainment value. Lastly I think slash hit it on the head as well, ticket holders just aren't coming and don't want to give up their ticket statis which I think is rediculous. I was on the season ticket waiting list for 7-9 years or so and I finally said screw it and got off the list, this was in the 90s when real football was being played.





Salute the nation
 
I'll expect to see a bunch of Bengals fans at Heinz this weekend.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
5,000 no shows is a bad look, especially for the home opener. Years ago a big part of the cheering was organic. The fans connected with the physical style of play on the field and the defense pumped up the crowd by raising their arms on just about every play. Now they have too many crowd cheering prompts and drown out any organic cheering with piped in music. Heinz Field isn't what it used to be, but at least it hasn't gotten as bad as PPG Arena where a playoff atmosphere mine as well be a Tuesday night game in November.
Click to expand...
I don’t think the nfl is what it used to be. Reason being for 1. Getting older. 2. Generational differences.

I don’t stop rooting for a team because of fresh faces. But for example I grew up with the late 90s, 2000’s Steelers. It’s different rules, personality etc.

A lot is the ease of access as well. Add in piped in music/noise.

PPG. The Pens go too corporate/commercialized at times
 
6Lombardis said:
Not saying you're wrong, but there is still technically a COVID pandemic going on. At least for this particular game and for a while, this could explain some no-shows. I was at the Ravens game in 2019, no Ben, and that stadium looked packed to me and it was raining that day.
Click to expand...
There were 4,000 no shows for that game. Did you see the Penn State Saturday? One of their largest crowds ever. People are not not showing up because of Covid, but because of the other things I mentioned. It has been a trend since 2014...actually since 2009 if you look at percent capacity.
 
I have ( unfortunately) been at the last 2 games and was shocked that the announced attendance for the home opener was 4,000 short of a sellout and the Bengals game was 10,000 short of capacity. Club level ticket for yesterday’s game were $65 hours before kickoff on Ticketmaster resale.
Side note and less important… lack of labor at the stadium means an hour in line to get something to eat or drink.

After 19 years on the waiting list, I get tickets 3 years ago…year of COVID in there…wondering if it is worth having them.
 
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DK mentioned that more than half the season ticket holders don't live anywhere near 412
 
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