Going to a game questions

[EzraTank]

I live about 5 hours (driving) away but my son just turned 10 and I want to take him to a home game. The December 4th game against the Giants works best for me. We're going to stay at the Hyatt near the stadium and spend the weekend in Pittsburgh as well.

My first question is where to sit at the game (I've never been there). I'm looking at sections 121 thru 125 in the end zone because I want my son to have his first experience be a great one. Has anyone ever sat down there?

Second question is what to do in that area? Any suggestions on food and fun?

[AtlantaDan]

I live about 5 hours (driving) away but my son just turned 10 and I want to take him to a home game. The December 4th game against the Giants works best for me. We're going to stay at the Hyatt near the stadium and spend the weekend in Pittsburgh as well.

My first question is where to sit at the game (I've never been there). I'm looking at sections 121 thru 125 in the end zone because I want my son to have his first experience be a great one. Has anyone ever sat down there?

If you check out SeatGeek there is an image of the seating chart for Heinz - when you click on a section you can see available tickets in the section and what the view is from that section

https://seatgeek.com/giants-at-steel...ld/nfl/3233063

FYI the other main secondary ticket sites are StubHub and NFL Ticket Exchange - Ticket Exchange is run by Ticketmaster and is the official NFL site

http://www.stubhub.com/pittsburgh-st...21915&tktbkt=4

http://www.ticketexchangebyticketmas...96?segment=nfl

If you sit in the lower bowl in the 100s sections my understanding is if you buy row K or higher you can avoid possible difficulties in seeing play as you approach field level in the first 10 or so rows - but I have not sat in the lower bowl on any of my annual pilgrimages to Heinz (I am going this Sunday )

Anyone who has sat downstairs with knowledge on the view from rows A - J?

[86WARD]

I want to take my kids and wife but it's so damn expensive...not sure if we will ever be able to afford it...lol.

[mark0933]

I've been lucky to sit in row 1 of section 123 or 124 and also the FC3 (at the other end of the stadium right at field level). While I liked the FC3 being closer to the field and the end the Steelers warm up in, the S124 seats were nicer. You are up about 8 ft from ground level at row 1 and have great sight lines.

As for what else, that depends on your personality. Our family liked the PPG zoo/aquarium, didn't much like Kennywood (if you are a heritage buff, maybe), depending on the direction you are coming from, (we come from Buffalo), stop at the indoor waterpark in Erie, the premium outlets 1/2 way between Erie and Pittsburgh, etc.

[EzraTank]

I've been lucky to sit in row 1 of section 123 or 124 and also the FC3 (at the other end of the stadium right at field level). While I liked the FC3 being closer to the field and the end the Steelers warm up in, the S124 seats were nicer. You are up about 8 ft from ground level at row 1 and have great sight lines.

As for what else, that depends on your personality. Our family liked the PPG zoo/aquarium, didn't much like Kennywood (if you are a heritage buff, maybe), depending on the direction you are coming from, (we come from Buffalo), stop at the indoor waterpark in Erie, the premium outlets 1/2 way between Erie and Pittsburgh, etc.

Thanks. We're coming from Ithaca, NY so probably down thru Williamsport and over. I think the seats behind the 120's end look great.

[Steelersfan]

If your looking to save money, buy the cheapest tickets you can find, then sit wherever the hell you want, once the game starts. As long as your not in a big group!!! If there are only two of you, you can probably sit fairly close behind the Steelers bench even. One of the games I went to last year, I knew about 4 other groups that were at the game. My son & I sat with each one of them, for a quarter of the game each with no issues. If somebody shows late and your in their seats, you just get up & move to the next closest empty ones you see.

Games are different than they use to be. No more going and sitting on concrete or metal bleachers all game long and never leaving your seat. You always hear people bitching about the stadium not being full. That's a misdemeanor. The stadium is more than full, it's just that half the people are out wondering around and/or socializing behind the bleachers. Big screen HD TVs everywhere, food, beer & bathrooms right in front of you. You can hang out, drink, smoke & bullshit with whoever your hanging out with, without bothering the people sitting next to you. Now, if you want to bitch about the game crowds now-a-days, then bitch about them going to the games for the social aspect, more than concentrating on the game/steelers. But you have the "best of all worlds" behind the bleachers; Your at the game taking in & enjoying the atmosphere. everything is at your fingertips, and you have the advantage of seeing the field better by virtue of all the HD tvs everywhere. Replay, slow motion, close-ups etc. that you can't see sitting in your seats. The best thing is, those socialites that had 300 dollar tickets 15 rows right behind the Steelers bench, they aren't there (or care) to kick you out of their seats that you are sitting in after you only paid 90 bucks for the seats your not sitting in.

Whoever said that Kennywood wasn't a big deal is wrong though. Best amusement park EVER. No worries though, It won't be open when your there. But here are the other things you can & MUST do for the Pittsburgh experience:


Some MUST see & do info/sites for a trip to "THE BURGH" !!!

The Sheraton Hotel at Station Square is a great place for an "outta-tahner" to stay. It's centrally located and very close (pretty much walking distance) to almost everything you need to see and do. It's a little pricey, not a budget type Hotel. But it's better priced than the one or two hi-dollar hotels dahntahn. Station Square is directly across the river from the stadium, just down from the incline, just down from the Southside and the gate to the "GATEWAY CLIPPER" (The absolute only way to go to the game if your from outta-tahn) is right next to the Hotel.
- Click on "Attractions" at the top of the page. It has more info on the Gateway Clipper, Inclines and The Sheraton Hotel:
http://www.stationsquare.com/

Here is the site for the Duquesne Incline. It's just down the road from the Sheraton Hotel and across the river from the stadium. Once you get to this page, click on the link in the middle, at the top of the page (free parking & directions):
http://incline.pghfree.net/

Here is the Gateway Clipper site. Click on "Shuttle" at the top of the page, then on Steelers: http://www.gatewayclipper.com/cruises.asp

Make sure you find a Primanti Brothers location. There is one in the stadium now, but you HAVE to check out the original Primanti's in the "Strip District" or the one on the Southside at 2:00 - 2:30 in the morning after the bars close for the "people watching" and to get the full effect of it.
http://www.primantibrothers.com/

This is a MUST DO & the best $6.00 dollars a Steeler fan will ever spend. 6 bucks gets you on to the field, into the Steeler's locker room, an "at-your-own-pace" tour of the Coca-Cola Great Hall of Fame (under the Stadium) and walk throughout every inch of the stadium. Here's the website for the Heinz Field tours. The tours ONLY run through October though:
http://www.steelers.com/tickets-and-...ium-tours.html
http://www.steelers.com/tickets-and-...reat-hall.html


MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU SEE/DRIVE INTO PITTSBURGH (For the 1st time) THROUGH THE FORT PITT TUNNELS.
- Do it once in the day and at night, both, if you can.
- It's on your way, directly between the airport (if flying in) and downtown/Station Square/The Sheraton/Heinz Field. If your driving in/rental car etc. make sure you go that route BEFORE you head towards dahntaun any other direction.
http://www.brooklineconnection.com/h...ttTunnels.html


Things/places you must eat at:

Mineo's (Pizza) Murray Ave Squirrel Hill
http://www.mineospizza.com/

Napoli's (Italian Hoagie) Murray Ave Squirrel Hill
http://www.napolipizzasqhill.com/hoagies.asp

Wholly's Fish Market (Fish Sandwich) Strip District
Wholey's Wild Caught Cod Fish Sandwich your choice of bun

The Original Oyster House:
http://originaloysterhousepittsburgh.com/


Must Shop/Check Out:

Definitely You (Steeler Store/Shopping) Brentwood/Baldwin Best place to buy Steeler gear
- No website - little mom & pop shop that has lots of stuff at good prices
http://www.yelp.com/biz/definitely-you-pittsburgh
http://pittsburgh.citysearch.com/pro...itely_you.html

Tons of Steeler Shopping (Flea Market style) in the Strip District *Saturday morning early afternoon is best*
-Whollys Fish Market and the original Primanti's is here also:
http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/essen...trip-district/

Pittsburgh's Southside for bar hopp'in, partying, Nightlife *Friday or Saturday Night Only*:
File:South Side Pittsburgh Panorama Feb 2010.jpg
- At least stop in to Mario's, Fatheads, Casey's and South Side 86 (Hines Ward owned this back a few years ago) for a beer each. Make sure you try a Yuengling & an Iron City/Iron City Light (Two Pittsburgh Local Beers)
http://www.yuengling.com/over21/over...engling.com%2F
http://www.pittsburghbrewing.com/age-verification

http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/essen...ide/nightlife/

http://www.facebook.com/southsidenightlife

If you never been, you must stop in to Jerome Bettis's restaurant, JB's restaurant is right at where the Gateway Clipper lets you off. You walk past it on the way to the stadium/tailgate lots.
- For guys, you gotta stop in JUST to "take-a-leak" before you "tailgate" for the the game. It sounds dumb, but it's the most memorable piss a guy will ever take.
- It's a good place to eat too, but not on a game day (Way Too crowded)

http://jeromebettisgrille36.g3restaurants.com/


Heard this is cool - Never tried it myself though
http://www.justduckytours.com/

Just another option
http://www.pghtours.com/

[86WARD]

Thanks for posting that Steelerfan. I'll use this when we make it it there...

[EzraTank]

Wow SF! Thanks!

[Born2Steel]

Yeah just sit wherever you can find seats. Most people won't make a fuss over a 10 yr old sitting there. If they do, you didn't want to sit by them anyway.

[Craic]

If you're visiting, and it's your first time, you MUST go to the strip district Saturday morning. It is an experience you'll never forget. The smell of the food, the steelers fight songs blaring through the streets, there's nothing like it.

Make sure you get a hotel that has shuttle service so you don't have to drive everywhere, especially to the strip district.

Also, Primanti's is a Pittsburgh thing, so check it out, but for my money, Peppis is better. Just thinking about their sandwiches makes my mouth water right now.

[Steelerschik]

WOW Steelersfan, I live here and don't do all that. And YES to Kennywood, the Thunderbolt is still the best wooden coaster there is! And Mineo's pizza...the BEST! We live about 15 minutes on the parkway away from Squirrel Hill, and parking isn't easy there, but so worth it!!! GREAT LIST! Oh and DeLuca's for breakfast on Penn Avenue is the greatest, beats Pamela's IMO.

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I live about 5 hours (driving) away but my son just turned 10 and I want to take him to a home game. The December 4th game against the Giants works best for me. We're going to stay at the Hyatt near the stadium and spend the weekend in Pittsburgh as well.

My first question is where to sit at the game (I've never been there). I'm looking at sections 121 thru 125 in the end zone because I want my son to have his first experience be a great one. Has anyone ever sat down there?

Second question is what to do in that area? Any suggestions on food and fun?

Hope you have a great experience/time here. I will keep my fingers crossed that the damn Liberty Bridge is fixed and opened by then which is causing one big freakin headache.

[Steelersfan]

WOW Steelersfan, I live here and don't do all that. And YES to Kennywood, the Thunderbolt is still the best wooden coaster there is! And Mineo's pizza...the BEST! We live about 15 minutes on the parkway away from Squirrel Hill, and parking isn't easy there, but so worth it!!! GREAT LIST! Oh and DeLuca's for breakfast on Penn Avenue is the greatest, beats Pamela's IMO.

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Hope you have a great experience/time here. I will keep my fingers crossed that the damn Liberty Bridge is fixed and opened by then which is causing one big freakin headache.

15 mins from Squirrel Hill. Where ya-at??? Monroeville abouts probably??? Me, I'm from West Mifflin. Lots of family in Elizabeth & believe it or not, still a few in Duquesne.

I try to be careful where I send people. There are plenty of more iconic Pgh places to see & do, but most people visiting don't have the time or the transportation. Places like Vincents, the Triangle bar in Swissvale (Battleship & destroyer Hoagies), Pepe's, Pizza King in Munhall, etc. etc. are all great places and have down-home meaning to us yinzers. Thing is, make a wrong turn or get lost going to places like the Triangle wouldn't be a good thing for an outta-tahner. If people "stay" (Hotel) close to dauntahn most stuff on the list is fairly accessible.

DeLucas needs added to my list/email though!!!

[Steelerschik]

15 mins from Squirrel Hill. Where ya-at??? Monroeville abouts probably??? Me, I'm from West Mifflin. Lots of family in Elizabeth & believe it or not, still a few in Duquesne.

I try to be careful where I send people. There are plenty of more iconic Pgh places to see & do, but most people visiting don't have the time or the transportation. Places like Vincents, the Triangle bar in Swissvale (Battleship & destroyer Hoagies), Pepe's, Pizza King in Munhall, etc. etc. are all great places and have down-home meaning to us yinzers. Thing is, make a wrong turn or get lost going to places like the Triangle wouldn't be a good thing for an outta-tahner. If people "stay" (Hotel) close to dauntahn most stuff on the list is fairly accessible.


DeLucas needs added to my list/email though!!!

Hahaha, you DO know town don't you. Not Monroeville, but damn close...Plum Boro. Grew up in Moon though, all the family is there and in Sewickley. To them being 2 parkways away I'm like "on the other side of the state practically." I'm embarrassed to say I don't know a few of those places you named. We used to have Vincents in Plum, but it closed. And my knowledge of Swissvale is the exit to take to get to Kennywood. I'm pathetic. Went to Deluca's Saturday, got there for 7:30 and literally no line. By the time we left though there was a long line. LOVE the Strip early Saturday mornings, it's just hopping. Love going over to Penn Mac and getting their fresh cheeses/meats and to die for deserts on the sidewalk. My daughter came home for the weekend just to go, not that she lives far (Pitt student, free breakfast, yeah). You have so many good things on your list though, I will be watching for new things for myself/family to do the next time you put one out. I feel like a failed Pittsburgh native. Thanks much!!