Social media disapproval poured in from all quarters following Monday’s decision by the Pittsburgh Steelers to change the name of Heinz Field to Akriswater Stadium.
The most famous person to tweet a figurative thumbs down was former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — the most accomplished player to ever call this build his home workplace.
I can’t believe it, it doesn’t look right or real! Home will always be Heinz Field! I will never forget the last game and all the amazing fans at FOREVER HEINZ! — Ben.#ForeverHeinz
(Thanks to @ThompsonFoto12 & @YinzerSzn for the great photos!) pic.twitter.com/BnYTDp9zEp
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) July 11, 2022
I agree with Roethlisberger, many other Steelers fans and members of the media on this point. The name is disgusting, antiseptic, and devoid of any legitimate connection to Pittsburgh. I also prefer the stadium to keep its original name.
But we have to keep some things in perspective.
First, the building is not collapsing. Roethlisberger’s tweet and some of the fan reaction make it seem like Heinz Field is being torn down, not renamed.
I heard too many callers on sports talk radio yesterday suggest that somehow the name of the marquee will affect the mood in the seats.
That’s stupid.
You could literally call the building “Insert Name Here Field” and, if a Steelers quarterback returns pick 6 in the AFC Championship, as Troy Polamalu did, the structure will still erupt, rock and shake like it did that night.
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Likewise, you can call the facility “Fred Rogers Field at Rooney Stadium at Primanti Sports Complex” and the atmosphere will stink if the Steelers are down 28-0 in the first quarter of a playoff game by the Browns.
Not that Roethlisberger would know anything about that.
If the name on the outside of the stadium affects your enthusiasm as a fan after the ball is kicked, you’re not that big of a fan.
And if one’s mind is distracted enough to wander during the game to that level of rationalization, maybe the product on the field is not good.
Also, Ben, come on. A little self-awareness, okay? You just retired after winning $267 million from the Rooneys. And you question ownership to grab money?
Irony, your name is Roethlisberger.
I mean, someone needs to make sure there’s enough in the payroll for TJ Watt’s salary to clear.
Maybe in another 20 years, Roethlisberger can buy the naming rights himself and change them back to “Heinz Field at Big Ben Stadium.” Giant clocks could replace ketchup bottles and chime seven times after a Steelers touchdown.
Speaking of which, what’s up with those ketchup bottles? Are they being auctioned? Does Heinz Field still sponsor the red zone?
If that happens, I’ll be much more concerned with who Roethlisberger’s replacement is under center and what the stadium scoreboard is showing.
Not the name on the outside of it.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review contributor. You can reach Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets can be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.
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