The giant Heinz ketchup bottles are coming down.
Crews on Monday morning removed the first of two ketchup bottles that framed the scoreboard at the former Heinz Field.
Last week, the stadium announced that Kraft Heinz no longer held the naming rights for the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh football team.
The first of two massive Heinz ketchup bottles framing the scoreboard is down at the newly-renamed Acrisure Stadium.@TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/0k4uBcO9V7
— Julia Felton (@JuliaFelton16) July 18, 2022
Michigan-based financial tech insurance brokerage Acrisure now owns rights to the field, which will be called Acrisure Stadium.
The new 15-year deal comes after the facility had been called Heinz Field since 2001.
Steelers fans have widely criticized the new name, with many posting on social media that they’ll continue using the Heinz name.
Crews early Monday morning began work to remove the oversized ketchup bottles with a crane. Where the ketchup bottles will go now remains unknown.
“While we worked diligently with the Steelers for several months around a new naming rights deal, they found a new partner willing to pay significantly more than we could justify,” Heinz said in a statement.
The company said they will remain a “significant, long-term sponsor of the Steelers” despite losing naming rights to the stadium. A spokesperson said additional details of their new sponsorship plan would be released in the coming weeks.
“Pittsburgh is the city where H.J. Heinz was born and where he launched what is now an iconic, global brand,” Heinz said in a statement. “The Steelers are a legendary franchise, and together with Heinz are a winning combination that represent some of the best of Pittsburgh.”
Their statement did not specify what would happen with the ketchup bottles.
A Steelers spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the removal of the well-known ketchup bottles Monday.
Pittsburgh’s Sports & Exhibition Authority could not immediately be reached for comment.
Related:
• Tim Benz: There are plenty of reasons to hate Heinz Field name change — but we're laying it on a little thick• Acrisure CEO thinks 'alignment' with Steelers in naming rights deal is perfect fit for growing company
• How will the loss of stadium naming rights affect the Heinz legacy in Pittsburgh?
