First off, how did you get started with this new role?
I spent the last 24 years in public education – 22 years as an Athletic Director in McKeesport. I was born there and played three sports there. I was tasked to find teams who want to use this new space. Central Catholic will play here. I’ve managed countless high school games and sat on the WPIAL Steering Committee – so I know a lot of people in the area. It’s really doing the same stuff I’ve been doing just with another role, working for Sports Facilities Companies as the company that manages and operates the facility. Community outreach, youth football….I’ll be managing those things.
There are a variety of places that I anticipate will utilize the facility once it starts up in August.
How are the Steelers involved?
The Steelers don’t specialize in sports facility management. They did research on local venues like the RISE Sports Center and the Highland Sports Complex in West Virginia. They found a company that specializes in this and manages it for them. They feel this is important as part of their community outreach – they believe in the importance of sports in the community. It’s more than just getting a ball through a basket. They have a robust community outreach program with youth football, flag football and the Game of the Week program. They really believe in giving back to the community.
It’s been amazing working with them and the amount of work that has gone into the facility. The main goals is to maintain the momentum they created and keeping the Hazelwood community at the forefront – and reaching out to the tri-state community to show how the facility can be an asset to everyone. The facility is one-of-a-kind – I can see other NFL teams using this as a model in their hometowns – I’m happy to be the pioneer to get this all started.
What makes this so unique for local teams?
I played high school football and remember playing Central Catholic at Carnegie Mellon University. That was their home field then. How many home fields has Central Catholic had since then? Tons of places. The uniqueness of this for them and other teams without fields – like Hazelwood – is now they have a home. The same with a any other teams in the same situation – we can schedule teams so they can use the field too.
What other programs do you expect to being to the facility?
Flag football and youth football clinics. Some players and coaches will have their camps here – much of this will be next year since the facility won’t open until August. But Western PA being what it is, we expect it to be a full season from March through October – starting this Mid-August when Hazelwood, Central Catholic, Oakland Catholic and others start playing here.
What makes the facility itself special?
It’ll have Steelers branding – for kids growing up here, to be able to run onto a field with the Steelers logo on a professional playing surface that is well-maintained and first class all-around will be a special experience.
How can people reach out for use of the facility?
You can learn more about the field here: Pittsburgh’s New Community Home Field and reach out here for information: info@ussteelcommunityfield.com