Take a Boat Ride to Heinz Field

Tailgating can be a production and for those who don’t want to deal with the planning, the cooking and the clean-up, here is a suggestion: let someone do it for you.

That is essentially Mark Schiller’s pitch with the Ultimate Sailgate Party, a venture he started in 1999 that is much more than just a boat ride to Heinz Field.

The Sailgate ship opens to patrons three hours before kickoff in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. A former Steelers player takes part in Sailgate and the first hour is for autographs and photo opportunities as well as eating and drinking.

The meal is catered by Sausalido Restaurant in the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh and the menu is different for every game. Two hours before kickoff the ship sets sail and there is a one-hour cruise on the rivers that are Pittsburgh’s signature.

The ship docks on the Allegheny River, right below Gate A at Heinz Field, and it is a short walk to the stadium. It is open during the game and customers can leave their belongings on the ship. It leaves a half hour after the game is over and stragglers who miss the ship can catch a smaller boat back as it leaves 45 minutes after the end of the game.

The cost is $85 for adults, $65 for seniors and $45 for children under the age of 10. Parking is limited at Sailgate’s 23rd Street location but there is a nearby garage that charges a minimal fee relative to parking locations closer to Heinz Field.

The price when factoring in all that comes with Sailgate is more than reasonable, and taking a ride in style to the Steelers game is something worth doing at least once.

“If you don’t have a place to tailgate we give you somewhere to hang out,” Schiller said. “It’s not going to be so crowded you can’t move and we try to make it special for you.”

The famed Gateway Clipper fleet also provides a nautical option for fans as far as getting to Heinz Field and it leaves from nearby Station Square.

Ships start running three hours before kickoff and depart every 20 to 30 minutes. They also run an hour after the end of games and the cost is $10 round-trip. That does not include parking at Station Square but that expense is generally offset by rates that are less expensive than ones closer to Heinz Field. Also, there are plenty of dining options before and after the game if you take the Gateway Clipper to Heinz Field.