Many – if not all Steelers fans were upset to learn that the home of their beloved team, Heinz Field, will be receiving a name change after the ketchup brand lost the naming rights on the venue itself.
After over 20 years as the namesake for the home of the Steelers, the franchise announced Monday that Acrisure agreed to pay the team more than $10 million a year for the stadium's naming rights. In a statement from the Kraft-Heinz company via PFT, they simply didn't think spending that much money would justify the benefits.
“While we worked diligently with the Steelers for several months around a new naming rights deal, they found a new partner willing to pay significantly more than we could justify,” the Kraft Heinz Company said in a statement.
Despite the famous ketchup brand losing its name on Pittsburgh's stadium, they noted that they will continue to have a presence in the community, just not with the same financial investment or notoriety that they previously had.
“Pittsburgh is the city where H.J. Heinz was born and where he launched what is now an iconic, global brand. The Steelers are a legendary franchise, and together with Heinz are a winning combination that represent some of the best of Pittsburgh. . . . While our name will no longer be on the stadium, Heinz will remain a significant, long-term sponsor of the Steelers and we’re excited to announce the details of our new partnership in the days ahead."
It's a shame that Heinz Field is no more but the NFL is, and always will be a business first. Every area of the league has become monetizable, from merchandise to video games, jersey sales, and of course naming rights for the stadiums that are used every Sunday.
Related
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram