Steelers introduce unique NFL ticket promotion for college students

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Thursday that they are introducing a first of its kind ticket promotion in the NFL for the 2023 season that is aimed at getting college students into the stadium.

It is called the "student rush" program and it will allow college students to purchase a limited number of standing room tickets for every home game for a flat rate cost of $50. There are no fees included in the purchase, while they will also get giveaways and other promotions as part of the offer. 

The team said there will be 100 tickets available each week.

"We are excited to launch this brand-new program, our first geared specifically towards college students in Pittsburgh," said Ryan Huzjak, the Steelers Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The Steelers Student Rush program will introduce newly created game access for college students, reinforcing our commitment to the next generation of Steelers fans. This initiative not only provides a student-friendly price but also lays the foundation for creating lifelong fans through a unique gameday experience geared towards our younger fans."

Students will need a valid ".edu" email address to sign up for tickets, while they can use their student IDs to get free transportation to the stadium from the various local college campuses. While the program is a first for NFL teams, other sports have offered similar promotions over the years, including another team in the city of Pittsburgh.

Back in the early 2000s when the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins went through a few down years and attendance sagged, the team introduced its own "student rush program" and would allow any high school or college student to buy the best available seat an hour before puck drop for a reduced cost. It became wildly popular, helped get more people in the building and also set the foundation for a future generation of ticket-buying fans that had developed a rabid attachment to the team. 

The Steelers are in a very different situation as they not only have a consistently competitive team, but also sell out Acrisure Stadium every week. This is just simply a way to offer local college students an opportunity to get to an NFL game at a discounted price. 

Along with the Steelers, Acrisure Stadium is also the home to the University of Pittsburgh football team.