Steelers to keep 'Heinz Red Zone' at Acrisure Stadium

Even with the start of full training camp practice sessions within sight, many Pittsburgh Steelers fans continue to be consumed by headlines and updates related to the club changing the name of Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium earlier this month after an insurance brokerage firm out of Michigan bought the venue's naming rights. 

Heinz previously vowed the Pittsburgh-based ketchup company was "excited to announce the details of our new partnership" with the club "in the days ahead," but that was before the stadium's famous ketchup bottles were removed from the Steelers' home. However, Mark Belko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday morning that Heinz and the Steelers have reached a verbal agreement on a new five-year deal. 

As part of this agreement, Heinz will continue its sponsorship of the "Heinz Red Zone" which is mentioned whenever the Pittsburgh offense reaches an opponent's 20-yard line. A digital replication of the removed ketchup bottles that would tilt during games will be used moving forward, and one of the actual bottles could ultimately return to a different portion of Acrisure Stadium. 

"We’re happy to say we’re going to continue to work with Heinz. Heinz is going to continue to be a corporate partner of ours," Steelers vice president of sales and marketing Ryan Huzjak explained. 

Meanwhile, Kraft Heinz spokeswoman Kathy Krenger said the returning ketchup bottle will be placed somewhere fans can access for pictures and photo ops. 

"There are other important elements of the deal that will give fans the opportunity to experience our brands such as concessions, tunnel covers and more," Krenger added.