When it comes to corporate-sponsored naming rights for stadiums, there are a few names out there that just work. Heinz Field was one of those stadiums. But like everything in the money-making landscape of professional sports, those names often don’t stick around forever.
On Monday, it was Heinz Field’s time to say farewell as a name — at least, that’s what Acrisure, LLC., thought it was going to get with the investment. The Steelers announced that Heinz Field was going to be called Acrisure Stadium starting this season, which marked the first name change to the stadium that opened in 2001.
We’re excited to announce that our home has been renamed Acrisure Stadium! @AcrisureLLC https://t.co/YzjP9Ap10j
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 11, 2022
While Heinz is a globally recognized brand from Pittsburgh, the Michigan-based Acrisure is, well, not (its Twitter account has around 550 followers). Just as Staples Center changed to Crypto.com Arena or how the Sears Tower became the Willis Tower, you can absolutely guarantee that Pittsburgh locals will continue to refer to the stadium as Heinz Field.
NFL fans were already refusing to recognize the new name.