So long, Pickle Palace. We’ll miss you, Mustard Monstrosity. Later, Heinz Field. Welcome to Acrisure Stadium?
Last night, Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan said on Twitter that Heinz had given up the naming rights to Heinz Field. This morning, the Post-Gazette reported that the new name would be Acrisure Stadium.
Heinz has had the naming rights since the stadium was built in 2001. The $57 million deal (Heinz 57, get it?) came to an end last year. No details have been released about how much Acrisure is paying to put its name on the stadium.
It’s hard to think of a more iconic Pittsburgh company than Heinz (full disclosure: my grandfather was a blacksmith for Heinz for decades). The H.J. Heinz Co. was founded here in 1869. Now Pittsburgh shares a headquarters with Chicago after Heinz merged with Kraft to form the Kraft Heinz Co.
Acrisure, however — a lot of people aren’t exactly sure what Acrisure is.
The fast-growing fintech firm from Grand Rapids, Michigan, uses artificial intelligence in its global insurance brokerage operations. Its lone connection to Pittsburgh is that it acquired Tulco LLC, owned by Steelers minority owner Thomas Tull. The Pittsburgh billionaire is a former film producer and founder of Legendary Entertainment.
“This is a great partnership and will have a tremendous impact on both organizations as well as the greater Pittsburgh community. The Steelers and Acrisure share the same core values of winning and excellence and I could not be prouder to be partnered with both,” Tull said in a statement Monday afternoon.
It’s not clear (but likely) that the giant ketchup bottles that pour when the Steelers enter The Red Zone are coming down too.
Reaction online hasn’t been particularly thrilled. (But a win or two over the Ravens is a great way to salve hurt feelings.)
An official announcement could come as soon as Tuesday.