What to eat at the game
PeppeRooney pizza, other new foods debut at Heinz Field
Neapolitan-style pizza has been a thing in Pittsburgh for quite some time. So what took Heinz Field so long to get with the program?
Aramark, the stadium’s food and beverage provider, rights that wrong this season with Franco’s Pizzeria. Papa John’s it ain’t. Rather, the concession booth that bears Franco Harris’ name features pizza prepared with
simple, fresh ingredients and artisanal dough. Choices include a Gina Margherita pie ($12) topped with whole-milk mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce and basil; a PeppeRooney ($12) that includes pepperoni; and The Immaculate Pie ($13) with pepperoni, hot soppressata and capicola. It also offers two massive calzones, each served with a side of red sauce. The Option 66 ($13) is stuffed with ricotta, whole-milk mozzarella, pepperoni and herbs, while the vegetarian End Zone ($12) is filled with roasted red peppers and mushrooms.
The best part is that even though the Steelers’ first preseason game at Heinz Field is Saturday, against the Tennessee Titans, the pizzeria booth is open to the public today and every day going forward from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. as long as the weather holds out. It sits next to a new bar called Spirits 33, which pours canned and draft beer ($8.75-$11) along with wine spritzers ($10), fountain soda and water.
Theyare part of a $2.5 millionexpansion of the stadium’sBud Light Pub 33. It adds2,000 square feet of new outdoorpatio space outside ofthe FedEx Great Hall on ArtRooney Avenue near WestGeneral Robinson Street. It will seat up to 285 guestson event days, when you’llhave to show your ticketto enter from inside the stadium,and around 185 on non-gamedays, when gates alongthe street will be open.
Franco’s Pizzeria is the second venture at Heinz Field for the former Steeler, No. 32. It follows Franco’s Italian Army Gridiron Sausages, which opened at the stadium in 2016. But it’s not the only new food option. Aramark executive chef Jason Whitecotton has cooked up some tasty new eats, too.
Pittsburgh Pierogi House (Sections 119, 426), which debuted last year, is trotting out its North Shore Huluski ($9.50). Instead of a noodle base, it will pair potato and cheese pierogies with kielbasa, braised cabbage and onions.
Chickie’s and Pete’s (Section 136) will have three new dishes — a cheesesteak ($10) with grilled onions and cheese sauce, regular or Buffalo chicken tenders ($8.50) and “crab” fries ($10.50) dusted with Old Bay seasoning and served with cheese sauce for dipping (Sections 513 and 538).
If Tex-Mex is more your style, you’ll find Buffalo chicken tacos ($12) in Sections 123, 137, 209 and 233. They come topped with spicy blue cheese sauce, shredded lettuce, shaved celery, red onion and crumbled blue cheese stuffed into a flour tortilla.
And for sandwich lovers, a new kielbasa grinder ($10.50) featuring Smith’s shaved kielbasa, sauerkraut and a Heinz Field secret sauce on a fresh-baked roll will debut in Sections 116, 123 and 139.
To help fans find their favorite eats, the Steelers app this year will include an interactive stadium map. To use, hit the menu and choose “Gameday @Heinz Field.” You can click on options around you or even search for specific food items. In non-food related news: • Due to a new mobile ticket system, fans no longer will be able to use laserprinted tickets to get into games. Tickets will have to be uploaded to your mobile phone via the Steelers or Ticketmaster app, or on ticketmaster.com. It’s meant to decrease ticket fraud. Season ticket holders can still use their paper tickets to get into the stadium.
• Heinz Field has partnered with Kulturecity.org to make the fan experience more sensory inclusive for guests who are particularly sensitive to loud noises and cramped, overstimulating environments. Guests with autism and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or dementia can check out complimentary special sensory bags and weighted lap pads from guest services. Bags will include items such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools and a feelings thermometer.
• New ribbon board displays inside the stadium will offer brighter, sharper images for fan engagement, thanks to new LED displays. And the North End will feature a new Hall of Honor Board commemorating Steelers legends who have made an impact on the team and organization.