Laird, Junker, Benz, Josh Taylor and our featured listener of the week pick Steelers-Niners, Pitt-Iowa, Penn State-Rutgers, Bengals-Chargers and Bills-Patriots against the spread.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are encouraging fans to arrive early to avoid anticipated heavy traffic and last-minute crowds at the gate, and to enjoy in-stadium pregame activities for Sunday’s home opener vs. San Francisco. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and all gates will open at 11 a.m.
There will be a Back To Football Party in the FedEx Great Hall with DJ Steve Maffei Jr., starting at 11 a.m. The event will have contests, giveaways and much more as the team prepares to kick off the 2015 regular season.
The Steelers will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of elements during the home opener. Miguel’s Mariachi Fiesta will perform outside of the stadium during pregame as fans enter the building. The Steelers will honor Dr. Diego Chaves-Gnecco, Director and Founder of the program Salud Para Niños at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. The Color Guard will be made up of local Army soldiers of Hispanic Descent. The Steelers will also honor local soldier of Hispanic Descent, SSgt. Oscar Aguilera, as this week’s Salute to Heroes honoree.
The Steelers 1st-IN-GOAL promotion, presented by Steelers Nation Unite, will allow fans who enter Heinz Field early on game days the opportunity to win exclusive prizes from the team. The first 25,000 fans who enter the stadium will be given a scratch-off card, and all 25,000 fans will be winners. Fans will have the opportunity to win pregame field passes, concert tickets (Stage AE), free in-stadium food and drinks, overnight stays (Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa), free coffee (GetGo), and many other prizes.
Steelers Nation Unite recognizes fans as official members of Steelers Nation. Free to join, members have opportunities to connect with the team and score exclusive rewards from wherever they follow the Steelers. Fans can sign up at www.steelersnationunite.com, on the Steelers mobile app or at Heinz Field. Registration areas at Heinz Field are located on Art Rooney Avenue outside the stadium, as well as at the Ford Fan Zone, Gate B, and the West Concourse inside the stadium.