‘This new name already sucks’ – Pittsburgh Steelers fans react to franchise’s Heinz Field stadium name change
After failing to secure a new agreement with Heinz, the sauce and condiment business best known for its distinctive ketchup and the iconic bottles it comes in, the Pittsburgh Steelers are apparently renaming their stadium. The team already has a new naming rights agreement in place, according to Andrew Filipponi of Pittsburgh radio station 97.3 The Fan. And it’s with a business that doesn’t make ketchup and couldn’t be more dissimilar from Heinz.
Goodbye Heinz Field. The home of the #Steelers will now be known as #Acrisure Stadium. It’s a 15 year deal— per @steelers pic.twitter.com/53iqyrXbYf
— Susan Koeppen (@susankoeppen) July 11, 2022
According to reports, the new name will be Acrisure Stadium. In the upcoming days, a formal announcement is anticipated.
Acrisure is a Michigan-based insurance provider, which is a dramatic contrast to Heinz, a well-known firm that was founded just five miles away and now has its corporate offices in Pittsburgh. Before the stadium’s 2001 opening, Heinz and the Steelers agreed to a naming rights agreement. In honor of Heinz’s previous newspaper advertisements that boasted about their “57 types” of items, the sale had a value of $57 million.
Does Acrisure have anything to do with the Steelers?
There might not be a direct link between Acrisure and Pittsburgh, but there might be a less direct one. Local Pittsburgh columnist Alan Saunders noted that Pittsburgh-based holding firm Tulco, which specializes in technology, sold its artificial intelligence division to Acrisure in 2020. Thomas Tull, a partial owner of the Steelers since 2009, created Tulco in 2017.
Why does that matter? Since name rights are offered to the highest bidder, probably not much. But it does provide some more nuance to the entire story because an insurance provider with headquarters in Michigan seems like an odd choice for naming rights. Due to Tull’s connections, Acrisure was certainly a recognized entity to the team, which might have assisted them in getting their foot (and their cash) in the door.
Steelers Fans already hate the new name for their stadium
Is it just me or does #Acrisure sound like the name of a stool softener?
— Jeremy Dakan (@Twins_Dad_12) July 11, 2022
#acrisure sound like some shit you hear on the TV at 3 am that you randomly wake up too
— KIINGBABY (@notwittafingaz_) July 11, 2022
Giant ketchup bottles for sale. Antiques. Don't lowball me. I know what I have. #HereWeGo #HeinzField #AcrisureStadium #Acrisure pic.twitter.com/5TcDSxeRmd
— 2 Beers Podcast (@2beerspodcast) July 11, 2022
My reaction when another insurance company gets naming rights to a stadium:#HeinzField #pittsburghsteelers #acrisure pic.twitter.com/yA62oFyxh1
— Stream Punk Entertainment (@StreamPunkEnt) July 11, 2022
#AcrisureStadium #HeinzField #Steelers #Acrisure #SteelersNation #Pittsburgh #PGH pic.twitter.com/kOuRuvfNFJ
— Breaking Burgh (@BreakingBurgh) July 11, 2022
Is it just me? The reported new name for Heinz Field sounds like a football injury #Acrisure #PittsburghSteelers @LegumeCarney @SteelersUnite But we fans do have our own issue with a stadium name. #Browns
— KatieAkronfood (@KatieByardABJ) July 11, 2022
I always called Heinz Field the New Three Rivers Stadium. I’ll just keep doing that. 💁🏻♀️🤣#acrisure #Pittsburgh
— rose ✌🏼🤦🏻♀️ (@webchyk) July 11, 2022
Have the “Are-ya-sure” Pittsburgh jokes started yet? #Steelers #Heinz #Acrisure
— Larry FooteSack (@atxhobogrl) July 11, 2022
Listening to Yinzers trying to pronounce #acrisure is going to be sooooo bad
— Ian Tyler (@iK9cards) July 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/ChuckRhodes15/status/1546523843174473730
acrisure sounds like a yeast infection medication https://t.co/HSaIwAwpsX
— favorably comparing nfl prospect to OJ (@lib_crusher) July 11, 2022
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