The Pittsburgh Steelers are encouraging fans to arrive early to enjoy the many activities surrounding game day at Heinz Field at Sunday's home game against the New England Patriots. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m.
The Steelers 1st-IN-GOAL promotion, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, will allow fans who enter Heinz Field early on game days the opportunity to win exclusive prizes from the team. The first 25,000 fans who enter the stadium will be given scratch-off cards, which will be distributed by volunteers from Ford and UPMC at all gates as well as suite and club entrances. Fans will have the opportunity to win pre-game field passes and the chance to participate in the pre-game Terrible Towel Twirl on the Steelers' sideline just prior to kickoff, Green Lantern Blu-Ray/DVD Combo packs, Stage AE concert tickets, free concessions (Coca-Cola fountain drinks, Augustine's Stadium Pizza, SilverStar Super Hot Dogs) throughout the stadium, private tours of Heinz Field, Terrible Towels, 2012 Steelers Fan Blitz passes, and $10 of Steelers' merchandise at any Steelers' Sideline Store.
This weekend marks the Steelers' Alumni Weekend as a number of weekend activities are planned. Saturday night, the alumni will participate in the team's annual Taste of the Steelers Event at Heinz Field and then will be recognized at halftime. Nearly 20 players and coaches who were on the team during the 1980s will be in attendance.
Fans can stop by Stage AE prior to entering the stadium to participate in the Official Tailgate Zone of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tickets to Sunday's game will be given away along with many other prizes. Admission is free and doors open at noon.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fan Cam will take place during kickoff and will give fans the chance to prove they were at Heinz Field for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots. Fans are asked to be in their seats early before kickoff each and every home game, and at that time, an ultra-high-def, 5-billion pixel image will be shot on the field. This 360-degree virtual image will capture Heinz Field in its entirety, and it takes between 5-7 minutes to shoot. Fans will be able to "step inside" the image and look around Heinz Field for a frozen moment of time at kickoff. Follow the Steelers Official Facebook page to be notified as soon as the image is available on Monday for tagging and sharing with friends on Facebook, email or twitter.
The Steelers are participating all season in the "Let's Tackle Recycling" campaign. At every Steelers home game, the Pennsylvania Resources Council and its partners are collecting aluminum cans, glass containers and plastic bottles and cups at tailgating parties in the parking lots outside of Heinz Field. The "Let's Tackle Recycling" campaign is sponsored by PRC and the Alcoa Foundation in partnership with Heinz Field, Alco Parking, City of Pittsburgh Environmental Services, Greenstar Recycling and the Sports & Exhibition Authority.
The Steelers are making fans aware of regulations for Halloween costumes for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
- Costumes must be in good nature and not offensive or discriminating.
- Masks and props will not be permitted; face painting is permitted.
- Costumes must not impair another fan's view or enjoyment of the game.
- Clothing must fit within the boundary of an individual's ticketed seat location, no storage of costumes will be permitted.
The annual Salvation Army kettle collection will be held during Sunday's game. Volunteers will be stationed at kettles at each gate as well as in the Coca-Cola Great Hall and the West Concourse from 2 p.m. until just after kickoff. Fans unable to attend the game can also donate by visiting www.OnlineRedKettle.org/PittsburghSteelers.
The following are additional highlights for fans for Sunday's game:
- Velveeta will be performing in the Coca-Cola Great Hall and Sputzy will be performing on the Main Concourse West prior to the game.
- The Ohio University Marching Band will perform on the field during pregame.
- The Steelers will honor the family of Officer Derek Kotecki on the field prior to kickoff. Kotecki lost his life while on duty earlier this month.
- The Alpha Company 1st of the 110th Infantry of the Army National Guard in Indiana, Pa. will serve as today's Color Guard.
- Jason Washington, the music minister of the Petra International Ministries, will sing today's National Anthem.
Actress Kristen Dalton (One Shot, being filmed in Pittsburgh) and actor Jessie Williams (Grey's Anatomy), along with 1st-IN-GOAL pre-game field pass winners and season-ticket holder Scott Palde, will help lead this week's Terrible Towel Twirl.
