Tailgating still a tradition for Steelers fans despite loss of available space

Since he started tailgating and purchasing Steelers season tickets in 1997, Jim Carlowski has missed only three home games.

Carlowski, 48, of Moon said he usually arrives about four hours before kickoff to maximize his time tailgating.

“It’s part of the experience — making the full day of it,” Carlowski said, even though setting up is getting “harder and harder.”

Indeed, there were about 3,000 fewer surface spots available for tailgating when the Steelers opened their 2023 campaign Sunday, compared with when Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park opened in 2001.

The drop is largely because of site development on the North Shore, according to Merrill Stabile, president of Alco Parking Corp.

Tailgating experience

Yet, if there weren’t opportunities to tailgate, Carlowski said he’s not sure if he’d try to meet his goal to attend every Steelers game. Tailgating makes traveling downtown, parking and leaving to go back home “worthwhile,” according to Carlowski.

Carlowski said he’s been “moved all over the place” over the years. He’s parked in the various Gold lots, and he’s currently in Red 7.

Eventually, Carlowski said, he believes tailgating will mostly go away.

“The next generation just won’t know what they’re even missing,” Carlowski said.

Until this Sunday, Mick Griffith said he hasn’t had any problems with saving spots in the parking lots, and he’s been tailgating at every game for 30 years.

He started a tailgate with his friends that they designated as an open invitation that drew 20 to 30 people. Now, it’s grown to over 100, he said.

Their group gets food catered every week, and ahead of Sunday’s matchup, they ate steak and fried shrimp. Similar to Carlowski, he arrives early — about 8:30 a.m.

Getting up and planning the tailgates is an “escape from reality” for Carlowski. He likes the companionship and people-watching aspects of tailgating the most.

“I mean, you see some things tailgating that you just don’t see anywhere else, which is pretty cool,” Carlowski said.

Matt Light, a Pittsburgh-based comedian, said he’s been tailgating since he was 7.

He’s one of the organizers of a tailgate in the Gold 2 lot, which he said is his favorite location so far because of how short the walk is to Acrisure Stadium. He’s moved twice.

It’s been “kind of frustrating” for him to see new developments replace former parking and tailgating locations.

On average, his tailgate draws about 250-300 people per home game.

“As long as you’re wearing black and gold, you can drink with us,” Light said.

For Light, tailgating is the one thing that separates watching football on TV from attending in person. He’s able to catch up with those he doesn’t get to see often and “forget about all of our problems.”

“Without tailgating, I’ll save $400 and watch the game at home,” Light said.

Light said tailgating has changed, as the crowds are “getting smaller and smaller as the years go on.” Despite this, Light said, it’s “really important to have the tradition of tailgating.”

Carlowski agreed.

“I think it’s part of the identity of the city,” Carlowski said. “Most people are friendly here — they want to talk football.”

Optimism reigns

Early Sunday, tailgaters were feeling pretty optimistic heading into the season, and some believe the Steelers might be headed to the Super Bowl once again.

Donna Edwards and Lynn Dalton Howell are two of those people. They’re part of a family of 10 from Pittsburgh, with three siblings still living around the area.

“I think we’re going to go all the way,” said Edwards, of Kennett Square. “There’s no coach like Mike Tomlin.”

Dalton Howell, 63, of Monroeville said the key to being “unstoppable” is if the players stay healthy.

Edwards said their father was a season ticket holder starting in 1970, and now, they will gather in Pittsburgh “several times a year” for tailgating.

“We love coming to Pittsburgh to see our beloved Steelers. … There’s no city like Pittsburgh fans,” Edwards said.

Though she lives outside of Philadelphia and has lived in other locations, Edwards said there’s no place like home — Pittsburgh.

“I think it’s wonderful to see people come together from very diverse backgrounds because that’s what the world should be like — loving and accepting each other.”