U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green will celebrate its official opening Aug. 15–16, marking the beginning of a new chapter for youth sports, community programming and neighborhood gatherings in Hazelwood, the Mon Valley and greater Pittsburgh region.
The opening weekend begins Saturday, Aug. 15, with JADA House International’s Back to School Blast Off, an event supporting local students and families as they prepare for the new school year.
The Hazelwood Cobras youth football program will take the field on Sunday, Aug. 16, with a series of games beginning in the morning and running all day, featuring teams from 5-year-old flag football to 12- to 13-year-old players. There will be kid-friendly activities and a halftime show featuring the Cobras Cheer Team, with local DJ House of Waxx. Game balls also will be presented during a special celebration to recognize the community members and project partners whose shared commitment made the new field possible. The game ball celebration will take place shortly before kickoff of the third of four games that day, at roughly 2 p.m.
Central Catholic High School also is using the new venue as its home field. On Sept. 11, Central Catholic will play its first varsity football home game there, facing Pine-Richland in a premier WPIAL matchup.
“Opening weekend will be an important celebration, but it’s also just the beginning. We want this facility to be active throughout the year and to serve as a source of pride and opportunity for Hazelwood and the entire Pittsburgh region,” Hazelwood Initiative Executive Director Sonya Tilghman said.
The opening of U. S. Steel Community Field addresses a longstanding need for high-quality, multipurpose athletic space that can accommodate youth sports, school teams, training programs and community events. The venue is designed to provide local athletes with a first-class place to compete while remaining accessible to organizations and residents seeking space for practices, games, clinics, celebrations and other gatherings.
“U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green reflects a meaningful commitment to bringing a high-quality, professionally managed, multi-sport complex to the young people of Hazelwood and the greater Pittsburgh region,” said project collaborators the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Tishman Speyer, Hazelwood Green Youth Sports Charities and Steelers Charities in a joint statement. “This project will help to fill a need for accessible, community-focused fields where youth can play, practice, compete and grow. This collaboration, along with day-to-day management by Sports Facilities Companies, will ensure this facility becomes a lasting community asset that supports opportunity, health, and connection for years to come.”
The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), a national leader in the development and management of sports and recreation venues, will manage the field’s day-to-day operations, programming and facility services, overseeing scheduling, maintenance, staffing, event coordination and efforts to ensure the field remains active, welcoming and professionally maintained.
As part of the venue’s opening, SFC announced longtime western Pennsylvania athletic administrator Charley Kiss as General Manager. Kiss brings extensive experience overseeing athletic operations, facilities, budgeting and staff management. He most recently served as Athletic Director/Business Affairs and Title IX Coordinator for the McKeesport Area School District, where he directed athletic operations, facility and playing-surface maintenance, transportation, staffing and departmental budgeting.
“This project is a true community anchor for the greater Pittsburgh region,” said Jason Clement, CEO of The Sports Facilities Companies. “We are thrilled to make sure U. S. Steel Community Field delivers every day for athletes, teams, families, and neighbors. These Pittsburgh-based foundations and pillar organizations' leadership in improving the health and economic vitality of the Hazelwood community is truly inspiring. We are grateful for their confidence in SFC coming alongside the vision and their consistent support behind Hazelwood Green. This facility creates impact well beyond the field.”
The facility was made possible through a unique collaboration involving the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Tishman Speyer, Hazelwood Green Youth Sports Charities, U. S. Steel, Steelers Charities, Central Catholic High School and the NFL Foundation. The partners brought together philanthropic support, community relationships, development expertise and a shared vision for creating a lasting neighborhood asset. Earlier this year, U. S. Steel was announced as the naming rights partner for the complex.
“At U. S. Steel, we’re investing in more than a field… we’re investing in the future of this community, said David Burritt, President and CEO of U. S. Steel. We want young people to have a place to play, compete, learn the value of teamwork, and build memories that last a lifetime. We’re proud to help create a space that brings people together and will serve Hazelwood, the Mon Valley, and the Pittsburgh region for generations to come.”
The opening of the field is the latest milestone for Hazelwood Green, a former industrial site that has been redeveloped over the past 20 years by the Almono Partnership – a collaboration of the Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation and Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. In February, Carnegie Mellon University opened its Robotics Innovation Center at Hazelwood Green, and multifamily housing is under construction nearby.
U. S. Steel Community Field features a full-size athletic field with seating for approximately 3,000 spectators, a press box and a concession stand. The project also includes the renovation of a 10,000-square-foot building that will contain locker rooms, bathrooms, multipurpose rooms, an athletic training room and storage.
The facility is framed by a tree-lined park with a paved plaza, public seating, a covered pavilion and a green lawn that can support community gatherings and special events.
Year-round programming at the field is expected to include youth tackle football, flag football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and rugby, as well as community events and Steelers-hosted mini camps and clinics. The flexible design will allow the facility to serve traditional athletic programs while also accommodating educational activities, neighborhood events and other community uses.
Groups interested in renting or utilizing the field for sports events can reach out to General Manager Charley Kiss at ckiss@ussteelcommunityfield.com or visit www.ussteelcommunityfield.com.
OPENING EVENTS
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2:00 p.m.
JADA House International Back to School Blast Off
A community event supporting students and families ahead of the new school year.
Sunday, Aug. 16, 10:00 a.m.
Hazelwood Cobras Youth Football Games and Opening Ceremony
The Hazelwood Cobras will play series of games and celebrate the opening of the field with kid-friendly activities and local performers. The four games include flag at 10 a.m., 8U at noon, 10U at 2 p.m. and 12U at 4 p.m. Game balls will be presented during a special “halftime” celebration to recognize community members whose shared commitment made the new field possible. Tickets can be purchased that day at the gate.
Friday, Sept. 11, 7:00 p.m.
Central Catholic vs. Pine-Richland
Central Catholic High School will play its first varsity football home game at U. S. Steel Community Field in a premier WPIAL matchup. Ticket information, including on-sale details, will be announced at a later date.
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