Heinz Field: Costs

Unless you are Justin Bieber or one of the other handful of young millionaires in the world, money is an issue that comes up on a daily basis.  People make certain decisions solely based on money and their economic well being, and this is especially true for teenagers and college students like yourselves.  I am a college student myself, and I know how tight money can get at times.  We are all worried about the next big paper that is due or the midterm that we must pass, and we do not have the time to make extra money.  The ideal date is one that requires a minimal cost and allows you to enjoy the time spent with your significant other.  The prices associated with Heinz Field will cause you to worry about the hole that was just burnt in your pocket and will not allow you to truly enjoy your date.  The major expenses that you will have to account for when attending a Steelers' game are prices of tickets, parking, and food.  For this blog post, I will analyze the costs for you and your partner to attend one game.  That means I will be analyzing the price of two tickets, one parking pass, and two meals to fill your hungry stomachs.

Tickets

If you are interested in purchasing Steelers' tickets for you and your girlfriend, you better find a job or hope that grandma sends some spending money in the mail; and  a lot of it.  Below is Heinz Field's seating chart with the average ticket prices for each section. 

Photo courtesy of  gottickets.com

• Average prices by section 
• Upper (orange):  $93.97
• Lower (blue):  $170.79
• Club (yellow):  $225.58

For this price analysis, I will keep all prices at the minimal value.  For two tickets in the upper deck - the worst seating in the stadium - it would cost you around $188.

Parking 

If you do not have a parking permit in the vicinity of the stadium on game day - forget about it.  Parking in a space close to the stadium without a permit would be like passing a Physics exam without studying for it.  It is nearly impossible.  The cheapest parking lot costs a very reasonable $12 and is only 0.7 miles away from the stadium.  I must mention that between the $12 parking lot and the stadium is the Ohio River which requires a ferry to get from point A to point B.  The ferry costs $10 per person which adds on an additional $20.  

The total price for parking and transportation to the stadium comes in at $32. 

Food

When it comes to major sporting events, food prices skyrocket, and Heinz Field is no different.  Here are some prices of popular football foods offered inside the stadium:

• Nachos:  $7.25
• Personal Pizza:  $9
• Popcorn:  $8.50
• Pretzel:  $5
• Soda:  $8.25
• Beer:  $8.75 

Now let's assume that you and your lovely girlfriend want to get a snack and drink to hold yourselves over for the duration of the game.  As always, I will analyze the cheapest prices which means that both of you will get a pretzel with a soda.  A couple purchasing 2 pretzels and 2 sodas will result in a cost of $26.50.  Above, I listed just the most basic snack foods, but the stadium offers much more with a much greater price tag. 

Totals

Tickets + Parking + Food
$188 + $32 + $26.50 = $246.50

$246.50 for a few hours spent in Pittsburgh.  $246.50.  Surely, it is nice to pamper your date occasionally, but a four hour outing for such a price is absurd.  A nice weekend date is meant for you and your loved one to wind down after a long week and enjoy each other's company.  I can guarantee that a $246.50 bill at the end of the day is not going to put you at ease.  These prices are just one reason to avoid Heinz Field, and by doing so, you will keep some extra dough in your pockets. 

Below are prices of alternative activities in Pittsburgh:

*Costs for two people*

Activity	Price
Duquesne Incline	$10
Miniature Golf	$12
Ice Skating at PPG Place	$16
National Aviary	$24
Kayaking	$30
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium	$30
Heinz History Center	$32
Watching the game at home	FREE