Steelers, Heinz Field Announce New Tailgate Provider
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The trademark white tents of the Tailgate Guys first appeared on the North Shore's Great Lawn for Pitt football games last fall. They have since been appearing for concerts, and the Steelers have now reached an agreement so they can serve Steelers Nation.
Heinz Field's Nick Sero says with the Tailgate Guys, "There's no set up required, no take down, you just come and have fun."
With the number of North Shore tailgating spaces being gobbled up by new development, the Steelers were looking for a way to enhance the fans' game-day experience. Justin Acierno is a Pittsburgher through and through, and now handles the Northeast Region for The Tailgate Guys.
"We can fit about 36 different tailgates on the Great Lawn, depending on the size of the tents," he says.
KDKA's John Shumway Reports:
Tents as small as 10x10 and 20x20 can be combined to create whatever size coverage a tailgating crew might need.
Acierno says, "We have three standard packages. The Rookie, the Champion, and the Hall of Fame package. They come with a standard set of equipment, tables, chairs, all the way up to coolers, TVs and catering."
You can use their catering or bring your own.
Acierno says, "We're always using a BBQ vendor, and we have some smaller, fast food-type caterers, and we're always looking to add additional caterers who meet the need of tailgate-type food."
The Tailgate Guys launched their concept at Southeastern Conference universities, then expanded to the ACC, and now to the NFL.
"The Rookie package will start out at $700 and that will host up to 20-25 people. And then it can go up from there, depending on the catering and the coolers and the TV and stuff like that."
On the other end of the menu, Acierno says, "The Hall of Fame package will cost you about $3,500 and will host up to 60 people and that comes with TV, cocktail tables, the whole works."
The Tailgate Guys were there for the Kenny Chesney concert and have a number of clients already signed up for the Luke Bryan concerts in a few weeks.
In each instance, the Tailgate Guys have everything ready when you arrive, and when the game is over, you can return to tailgate a bit more.
Acierno says, "And then you get out of here and we clean everything up for you."
While bringing in your own food is optional, bringing in your own alcohol is not. The Tailgate Guys don't want the liability that comes with alcohol, so tailgating under their tents is strictly BYOB.
Tailgate packages are available now and can be reserved online. For more information, visit their website here.
