View source for Pitt Stadium

{{short description|Defunct outdoor stadium}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Pitt Stadium
| nickname = 
| image = InsidePittStadium.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = View from southwest corner in [[1998 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|1998]]
| fullname = 
| location = Terrace Street<br />[[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]] <!--15260--->
| coordinates = {{coord|40.444|N|79.962|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = August 7, 1924
| built = <!--August 1924 to September 1925-->
| opened = September 1, 1925
| renovated = 
| expanded = 
| closed = November 13, 1999
| demolished = December 1999
| owner = [[University of Pittsburgh]]
| operator = University of Pittsburgh
| surface = [[AstroTurf]] (1990–1999)<br />SuperTurf (1984–1989)<br />AstroTurf (1970–1983)<br />Natural grass (1925–1969)
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]2.1 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2100000|1925}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!-- dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = W. S. Hindman
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer = 
| general_contractor = 
| project_manager = 
| main_contractors = Turner Construction
| former_names = 
| tenants = [[Pittsburgh Panthers]] ([[NCAA]])<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers football|football]], soccer, track & field (1925–1999)<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|basketball]] (1925–1951)<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers baseball|Baseball]] (1939–1969)<br />[[Carnegie Tech Tartans football|Carnegie Tech Tartans]] (NCAA) (1929–1943)<br />[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1964–1969)<br />[[Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera]] (1946–1958)
| capacity = 56,500 (c. 1949–1999)<br />69,400 (1925–c. 1949)
| dimensions = 
| scoreboard = 
}}
'''Pitt Stadium''' was an outdoor athletic [[stadium]] in the [[eastern United States]], located on the campus of the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in the [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]] neighborhood of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Opened in [[1925 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|1925]], it served primarily as the home of the university's [[Pittsburgh Panthers football]] team through [[1999 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|1999]]. It was also used for other sporting events, including [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|basketball]], [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's soccer|soccer]], [[Pittsburgh Panthers baseball|baseball]], track and field, rifle, and gymnastics.

Designed by University of Pittsburgh graduate W. S. Hindman, the [[United States dollar|$]]2.1&nbsp;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 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|2000]], before moving to the new Heinz Field (now [[Acrisure Stadium]]) in [[2001 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|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 [[Pop Warner|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 [[United States dollar|$]]2.1&nbsp;million for site acquisition and construction. W. S. Hindman, a Pitt graduate, was the stadium's designer and engineer.

[[File:Pitt Stadium - Home of the Panthers.jpg|thumb|left|View of the stadium in 1925]]
The Turner Construction Company built the stadium from August 7, 1924 to September 1, 1925. The {{convert|791|by|691|ft|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite book |title=University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999|editor-first=E. J. | editor-last=Borghetti|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics | year=1999|page=212| url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics&cc=pittathletics&idno=31735038318790&q1=Pitt+Stadium&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=214;|access-date=2010-02-01}}</ref> On September 26, 1925, Pitt played its first football game at the new Pitt Stadium,<ref name=npsopn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FjUbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E0oEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6700%2C2669217 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Hannum |first=Max E. |title=New Pitt Stadium opened |date=September 26, 1925 |page=10}}</ref> a {{nowrap|26–0}} victory over [[Washington and Lee University|Washington and Lee]].

Starting in 1929, the stadium also hosted the football team of the [[Carnegie Tech Tartans football|Carnegie Tech Tartans]], which played their home games there on a split schedule with the Panthers until 1943.<ref name=uopstd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A2MeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ao4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6268%2C3676566 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Landucci |first=Fred |title=Carnegie Tech: University of Pittsburgh Stadium football |date=September 14, 1930 |page=4, sports}}</ref><ref name=tcffss>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4032%2C2454271 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Landucci |first=Fred |title=Tech chooses Forbes Field, schedule set |date=March 19, 1946 |page=22}}</ref>

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 {{convert|16|to|18|in|cm}}, reducing the final capacity to {{nowrap|56,500.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittmiscpubs;cc=pittmiscpubs;g=documentingpitt;xc=1;xg=1;q1=Milligan;rgn=full%20text;idno=00c50130m;didno=00c50130m;view=image;seq=242;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset; |pages=222 |last=Alberts |first=Robert C. |title=Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1987 |year=1986 |access-date=2009-09-14 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |location=Pittsburgh, PA |ISBN=0-8229-1150-7}}</ref>}} 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 {{convert|17|mi}} 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.<ref name="1999media213">{{cite book |title=University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999|editor-first=E. J. |editor-last=Borghetti|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics |year=1999 |page=213 |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics;cc=pittathletics;q1=Pitt%20Stadium;rgn=full%20text;idno=31735038318790;didno=31735038318790;view=image;seq=215;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;|access-date=2010-02-01}}</ref> The highest attended game was in [[1938 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|1938]], when 68,918 saw the Panthers defeat [[Fordham Rams#Football|Fordham]] {{nowrap|24–13}} on {{nowrap|October 29.<ref name=aerp38>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cCEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2972%2C3454260 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=(photo) |title=76,000 persons - count 'em, 76,000 - are in this stadium picture |date=October 30, 1938 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=ppexl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cCEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5659%2C3602046|work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Smith |first=Chester L. |title=Pitt's power 'explodes' late to down Rams, 24-13 |date=October 30, 1938 |page=1, sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=University of Pittsburgh Football Media Guide 1999|editor-first=E. J. |editor-last=Borghetti|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics |year=1999 |page=214 |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics;cc=pittathletics;q1=Pitt%20Stadium;rgn=full%20text;idno=31735038318790;didno=31735038318790;view=image;seq=216;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;|access-date=2010-02-01}}</ref>}}

The NFL's Steelers played home games at Forbes Field from their [[1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season|1933]] inception to [[1933 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1957]]. They first played at Pitt Stadium in [[1942 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1942]], in an exhibition match for [[U.S.O.]] charity against the [[Fort Knox]] "Armoraiders" on November 15.<ref name=ctcfchl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=elMbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2929%2C2276522 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Fortune |first=Dick |title=Canteen tickets cut for children |date=November 13, 1942 |page=42}}</ref> From [[1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1958]] to [[1963 Pittsburgh Steelers season|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 Pittsburgh Steelers season|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 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1970]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |title= The Pittsburgh Steelers|last= Bouchette|first= Ed|year= 1994|publisher= [[Macmillan Publishers]]|isbn= 978-0-312-11325-4|page= 82|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qMqnE6Rboe4C}}</ref> Of historic note, the iconic photo of [[1964 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] quarterback [[Y. A. Tittle]], helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling, was taken at Pitt Stadium in [[1964 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1964]] following a Giants' loss to the Steelers on September 20. [[Y. A. Tittle#Famous photo|The photo]], taken by ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' photographer Morris Berman,<ref name=rckup>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ldhaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7466%2C3495558 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=(photos) |title=Story in pictures of how Tittle was racked up and injured |last=Berman |first=Morris |date=September 21, 1964 |page=30}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finder |first=Chuck |date=1989-11-20 |title=Pitt considering stadium dome |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wpYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pm4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2046%2C1339142 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |access-date=2014-01-07}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07335/838382-194.stm|title=Pitt gets it right with Pederson's return |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref>

[[File:PittStadiumWalk.jpg|thumb|left|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 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|1999]], when the Panthers defeated [[1999 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]], 37–27.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shelly |last=Anderson |title=Pitt comes up with a truly grand finale, stunning Notre Dame, 37-27 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports_pitt/19991114pittfb1.asp|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=14 November 1999|access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> The final touchdown in Pitt Stadium was scored by [[Kevan Barlow]] at 7:06 pm, just minutes prior to fans rushing onto the field.<ref>{{cite web |last=Collier |first=Gene |title=Pitt Stadium Goes Out With A Bang|publisher=Post-Gazette |date=14 November 1999  |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19991114stadium1.asp |access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref> Some of the 60,190&nbsp;spectators—the largest crowd in 16&nbsp;years<ref>{{cite news |first=Gene|last=Collier|title=Pitt Stadium goes out with a bang|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19991114stadium1.asp|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=14 November 1999|access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref>—ran onto the field with nine seconds remaining in the game, tearing down both goal posts and removing pieces of turf.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kristen|last=Ostendorf|author2=Michael A. Fuoco |title=Exuberant fans keep their cool after triumph|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19991114Aftermath5.asp|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=14 November 1999|access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> 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 [[Upper campus residence halls (University of Pittsburgh)#Pennsylvania Hall|student housing which was built at the site]]; construction began in June 2000 and the Petersen Events Center opened up in April 2002.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shelly|last=Anderson|title=End of an Era: Pitt Stadium's final game signals first step of many changes|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports_pitt/19991112whatsnext6.asp|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=12 November 1999|access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="1999media213" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9TAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KHADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6522%2C590946 |title=Pitt Stadium was more than football field for Pitt athletics |first=Shelly |last=Anderson |date=1999-11-12 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |location=Pittsburgh, PA |access-date=2010-02-02}}</ref> 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 [[Chuck Hyatt|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.<ref>{{cite book |title=University of Pittsburgh basketball media guide (2009–2010)|year=2009|publisher=[[University of Pittsburgh]]|location=[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]|page=192|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09-10_Pitt_MBB_Rec-Achiev.pdf |access-date=2010-02-01}}</ref> The basketball team moved to the [[Fitzgerald Field House]] for the 1951-52 season. The Pavilion also hosted [[Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League|WPIAL]] playoff games and pre-season games of the [[American Basketball League (1961–1963)|American Basketball League]]'s [[Pittsburgh Rens]]. The Pitt Pavilion was removed in 1994 when ground was broken for the stadium's Duratz Athletic Complex.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADF5B7D5E00FA0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Pitt 'Breaks Ground' In Stadium Renovation |date=1994-11-19 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |location=Pittsburgh, PA |access-date=2010-02-02}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

== Further reading ==
{{commons category}}
*{{cite book |title= University of Pittsburgh football media guide (1999)|year= 1999|publisher= [[University of Pittsburgh]]|location= [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]|url= http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pittathletics;cc=pittathletics;q1=Pitt%20Stadium;rgn=full%20text;idno=31735038318790;didno=31735038318790;view=image;seq=214;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;}}
*{{cite book|title=Pitt Stadium Memories 1925–1999|first=Sam Jr.|last=Sciullo|location=Pittsburgh, PA|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|year=2000|asin=B0006RFHJQ}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers football]]
 | years = 1925–1999
 | before = [[Forbes Field]]
 | after = [[Three Rivers Stadium]]}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball]]
 | years = 1925–1951
 | before = [[Motor Square Garden]]/Trees Gymnasium
 | after = [[Fitzgerald Field House]]}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball]]
 | years = 1925–1927
 | before = Trees Gymnasium
 | after = [[Fitzgerald Field House]]}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
 | years = 1942, 1958–1969
 | before = [[Forbes Field]]
 | after = [[Three Rivers Stadium]]}}
{{end}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers football navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers baseball navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers men's soccer navbox}}
{{University of Pittsburgh}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers}}
{{Pittsburgh sports}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}

[[Category:1925 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American football venues in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Defunct athletics (track and field) venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct college baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers baseball venues]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers basketball venues]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football venues]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers stadiums]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1925]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 1999]]
[[Category:College baseball venues in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Pennsylvania]]