Less than a year after joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in an advisory role, longtime Pittsburgh Penguins executive David Morehouse has been promoted by the Steelers.
Morehouse’s new title is executive vice president for strategy, the Steelers announced Thursday. According to a release from the team, Morehouse’s role will involve guiding the strategic direction of Acrisure Stadium operations as well as advising president Art Rooney II on team business operations. Morehouse, the Steelers say, also will continue to collaborate on Steelers community and NFL-related initiatives.
“David is well-known in Pittsburgh and around the country as an innovator and leader in effective sports management and strategy,” Rooney II said in a statement. “Working with him the last nine months, we are excited to tap into his skills to help us enhance our business operation and, more importantly, serve our fans in these ever-evolving times.”
After 18 years serving at the highest levels of the Penguins, Morehouse resigned soon after new ownership took over last spring and in August was announced as a “senior adviser” for the Steelers.
Morehouse was instrumental in the planning for the construction of PPG Paints Arena and the Penguins’ practice facility in Cranberry Township, notably in negotiating with state and local government officials. Morehouse has experience working in government, including as part of the administration of former president Bill Clinton.
The Steelers’ home field (Acrisure Stadium) and their practice facility (UPMC Rooney Sports Complex) are 22 and 23 years old, respectively. Among examples of NFL stadiums built at roughly the same time, the Tennessee Titans recently announced plans to replace Nissan Stadium (opened in 1999) and the Cleveland Browns reportedly are about to embark on a $1 billion-plus complete renovation of their 24-year-old stadium.
The Steelers share a South Side practice facility with Pitt’s football team that includes a 100,000-square-foot headquarters and an 125,00-square-foot indoor field. The Dallas Cowboys, as an extreme example, have an eight-story, 396,000-square-foot headquarters building amidst a sprawling development.
A Pittsburgh native and Duquesne University alumnus, Morehouse became president of the Penguins in 2007 and added the title of CEO three years later.
“As I said when I first joined the Steelers in August, this has been a dream come true for a Pittsburgh kid who grew up watching the Steelers of the ‘70s,” Morehouse said in a statement. “Art Rooney, the Rooney family, and the entire Steelers staff represent the heart of Pittsburgh.”
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .
