A post over on Cardiac Hill points out that within a few years, surface lot parking for Pitt games will once more shrink. Unfortunately, this has always been the plan since the whole idea was more development on the North Shore.
It sucks. I get the economics of it. Between the stadiums and casino, there has always been this plan to create more buildings in the area. Try to form mixes of entertainment/restaurant venues with some new office space. Personally, I’m not sold on the economic model, and all too often all these development projects do is shift entertainment money from one area of the city to another. But I digress.
The parking garages don’t let you grill — even on the roof. Urban tailgating has always been a bit more of a challenge, but it’s becoming more difficult in the ‘Burgh.
The goal is clearly to push fans coming to sporting events to go to the local bars and restaurants rather than bring their own stuff and tailgate. The problem is that standing or if you get to a place early enough, sitting, in a local bar or restaurant is not the same (to say nothing of the cost).
It’s even worse when you are bringing your kids with you. In a parking lot, you can keep the kids a little more entertained. It’s a little less structured. They can run around. Do stuff, and still let you still have a beer and some conversation. I’m sorry, I’m not bringing my 10-year old daughter into the Tilted Kilt before the game.
That means for families especially, but for an increasing number of people, the ongoing shrinkage of room to tailgate is encouraging people to come as close to the starting time as possible or just bag the game and stay home.
Unfortunately, the only way this trend will reverse is when it reaches a point where Steeler fans reach a point where they start skipping the early arrival tailgating because of the hassle and cost.
