Pitt Stadium
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| Full name | Terrace Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260 |
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| Coordinates | 40°26′40″N 79°57′42″W / 40.444380°N 79.961777°WCoordinates: 40°26′40″N 79°57′42″W / 40.444380°N 79.961777°W |
| Owner | University of Pittsburgh |
| Operator | University of Pittsburgh |
| Capacity | 69,400 (1925-c. 1949) 56,500 (c. 1949-1999) |
| Surface | Grass (1925–1969) AstroTurf (1970–1983, 1990–1999) SuperTurf (1984–1989) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 7, 1924 |
| Built | August 1924 to September 1925 |
| Opened | September 1, 1925 |
| Closed | November 13, 1999 |
| Demolished | December 1999 |
| Construction cost |
USD $ 2.1 million ($28.7 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | W. S. Hindman |
| Tenants | |
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Pittsburgh Panthers football, soccer, track & field (NCAA) (1925–1999) Pittsburgh Panthers basketball (NCAA) (1925–1951) Carnegie Tech Tartans (NCAA) (1929–1943) Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) (1942, 1958–1969) Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (1946–1958) |
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Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers. It was also used for other University sporting events, including Pittsburgh Panthers basketball, baseball, rifle, track, and gymnastics. Designed by University of Pittsburgh graduate W. S. Hindman, the US$2.1 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, before moving to Heinz Field in 2001.
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 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. The University purchased nine acres of land adjacent to university property for the Pitt Stadium site. University and private funding provided US$2.1 million for site acquisition and construction. W. S. Hindman, a Pitt graduate, was the stadium's designer and engineer. The Turner Construction Company built the stadium from August 7, 1924 to September 1, 1925. The 791 feet (241 m) by 617 feet (188 m) stadium was designed to hold a capacity of 69,400 with provisions for an upper deck that could provide for an additional 30,000 seats. On September 26, 1925, Pitt played its first football game at the new Pitt Stadium, a 26-0 victory over Washington and Lee. Starting in 1929, the stadium also hosted the football team of the Carnegie Tech Tartans, which played their home games there on a split schedule with the Panthers until 1943.
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