The NFL Hot Tickets: Week 7

At first look, the Week 7 schedule might look a little lackluster. There are no undefeated teams butting heads and there are just a few real hardcore divisional match ups. Still, despite the plethora of games with bad teams, like the Jets-Raiders game, or games where good teams are going to run up the score, like the Patriots-Buccaneers or Colts-Rams game, there are some great games that include one marquee match up at Heinz Field and a litmus test ay Cowboys Stadium.

Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)

APWill Rashard Mendenhall find running room against a tough Vikings run defense?

The game pits one of the four remaining undefeated football teams against a Steelers team that has won its last three games. The Steelers are trying to get back on track after starting off 1-2. They have beaten a decent Chargers team and two terrible teams since the start. This team needs to win a big game to prove they are back. The Vikings barely escaped last Sunday thanks to the Ravens last second missed field goal. They need a win in which they win the game and the other team’s kicker does not blow it.

Heinz Field (100 Art Rooney Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212)

Heinz Field is a testament to everything old school. The horse-shoe shaped, open-air stadium in a cold weather city is supported by steel and stone. The silver grey steel columns and rafters run abound in the stadium but are highlighted with Steelers gold once they reach up to support the upper deck. The large masonry anchors make you feel like you are headed into a respected coliseum ready for battle.

Of course the stadium, which was actually completed in 2001, has some modern touches. Walls of glass greet the fans as they move up the concourse, allowing a breathtaking view of the city and its skyline. That view is just as tremendous from the seats thanks to the open bowl stadium design. Replays and playful graphics featuring two bottles of Heinz ketchup can be viewed on the huge 48 by 27 foot video display scoreboard located in the open space at the south end of the stadium.

Once at the seats, fans must appreciate that the architects and engineers that designed Heinz Field tried to strike a balance between old and new. Each of the 64,050 seats has a cup holder, over 400 televisions are positioned throughout the concourse along with two video walls so that a trip to the concession stand does not mean missing a set of downs or a deep Roethlisberger bomb to Hines Ward. This field is designed to be everything a football fan that revels in cold weather could want.

Food and Drink

APCan Brett Favre snag a big road win and keep the Vikings unbeaten?

It is obvious that the spirit and culture of Pittsburgh breathes throughout the stadium once anyone visits the concession stands. Food options are meat and cheese, but meat and cheese that are prepared to perfection with far more options than hot dogs and hamburgers.

Grid Iron Grill has a variety of hot dogs and sausages as well as hamburgers, chicken breast sandwiches, and French fries. This is the most common stand throughout Heinz Field. Pittsburgh natives will implore fans from out of town to visit the Primanti Brothers near Section 110. This is a city-wide favorite with famous cheesesteak and cappicola sandwiches as well their own special brand of fries. Food proices are on par with the rest of the stadiums in the NFL, so be prepared to pay for any heart attack indulgence.

According to ESPN, the beer selection includes domestics (including the locally brewed Iron City) and a premium selection that includes Yuengling, Bass, Guinness, Harp, and Penn Pilsner. These come in 16- or 21-ounce cups. The 16-ounce cups are going reportedly going for around $6 for domestics and $8 for premium selection and the 21-ounce cups can go as high as $10. Basically beer will cost fans just like in any other major sports venue.

Tickets, Parking, and the Surrounding Area

Since the Steelers are returning Super Bowl champions and have continued to prove they should be able to return tickets are a little more than the typical game. Steelers tickets for 500-level seating are available from $185 and 100-level seating are available for upwards of $875.

Parking is available at the stadium lot across the street or at private lots located nearby. The private lots should be available for around $25, but this could fluctuate with local interest.

Heinz Field is located within the city of Pittsburgh by the Ohio River, so there are plenty of places to go before or after the game. The Steelers nation takes their tailgating seriously, so it is easy (and recommended) to load up on beer and food before the game. After the game, head onto the Pittsburgh North Shore and find places like Hi-Tops Sports Bar to celebrate or drown your sorrows. The UPMC SportsWork lets you test your athleticism with over 70 interactive events. Still, more traditional and less touristy taverns include Triangle Bar & Grill, Firewaters, and the 222 Bar.

Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets

Atlanta Falcons (4-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-2) (Sunday, 4:15 PM ET)

APCan Tony Romo deliver a signature win for Dallas?

This game is not about the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons had their litmus test last week against the Bears. The Falcons came through with flying colors 21-14. This game is about the Cowboys. The Cowboys have two tough losses to very good teams (Giants and Broncos) and three wins against teams that have a combined three wins. Dallas remains one of the most popular teams in the league and still has fans holding onto hope that the explosive offense is enough to get by. This game will test whether all this squad needed was a week off to get back into the NFC East playoff race.

Cowboys Stadium (1 Legends Way, Arlington, TX 76001)

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has seen the future of football stadiums and that future is Cowboys Stadium, the largest domed structure in the world. The arena is built like huge soccer venues, with seating for 80,000 that is expandable to 110,000. The retractable dome is designed to provide a climate controlled venue that will host events all year long. This is truly a spectacle that has inspired some and drawn ire from others (they call it the Death Star).

From an engineering and architectural standpoint this is a marvel. The immense roof is held up without any interior columns. Instead, two 300 foot tall arches bridge the length of the dome. This means that no person will have to endure an obstructed view by a load bearing component. Rather, Jerry Jones has retained the hole that marked the old Texas Stadium roof. This can sometimes light the field and make it difficult to see what is actually happening on the field, especially for those experiencing the glare on television.

If you find that the block of sunlight distracting, then you can just look up at the largest video screen in the world. Yes, the largest domed stadium in the world also has the largest television in the world. The screen begins at one 20-yard line and extends to the other 20-yard line. It is so huge that Titans punter A.J. Trapasso booted balls off it in practice before the first preseason game at the stadium.

This screen and its 10,584,064 LEDs (with 1080p resolution) have been at the center of controversy. Some see it as an eye sore that will detract from the game, while other just think it would be fun to play Madden 2010 on it. In addition to this huge screen, there are more than 3,000 other display screens so it will take a real effort to actually miss a second of the game.

Food and Drink

APCowboys owner Jerry Jones has provided Dallas fans with the largest TV in the largest domed stadium.

Remember how the stadium cost $1.5 billion to build and has been accused of being a bit indulgent? Well, those costs can be mitigated by naming rights and offering it as a venue for concerts, college football games, Bowl games, and soccer matches, but some of that cost is reflected in the price of the food.

A preview of the concessions printed in the Dallas Morning News highlighted some of the food and drinks. Yes, some items are a bit much, like run-of-the-mill popcorn and the Cowboys cheese steak both priced at $10. However, a Kobe Texas dog is just $5.50. There really is an incredible array of options in this department, from various Farmer’s Market fruits to Special Vegetarian Nachos ($8) to Truffled Macaroni and Cheese ($10 for a childhood dish complete with a garnish salad bar that includes bacon).

Beer and alcohol is definitely on ere on the expensive side. Domestics like Miller Lite, Coors, or Budweiser will cost $8. A Cowboyrita (an, albeit huge, frozen margarita with well liquor) is $14. For my part I say if you are paying that much for liquor (and you are not driving) then go for the Margarita. It may look a little feminine, but you will make the best use of your dollar while your friends are out $50 just to maintain a healthy buzz.

So, the food and drink can be a little bit more than even sports fans are used to paying, but for the most part it sounds like the options are much better than those same sports fans are used to.

Tickets, Parking, and the Surrounding Area

Cowboys tickets range from $52 for 400-level seating to literally thousands of dollars luxury box seating. Overall, the lower-end seats are not that much more than the NFL standard for nose bleed seats and with the giant screen the view will not be anything less than the fans down at the 100-seating level.

Stadium parking is rumored to be around $40 with premium parking available at $75. Cowboys Stadium is located in the middle a decently populated area, so there are bound to be cheaper options if you are just willing to walk a little farther to the gates.

Since the stadium is located in suburbia, after the game it is probably not best to try and party hardy in Arlington. There are a small restaurants and chain restaurants in the area. Cowboys Stadium is located kitty corner from the Ballpark in Arlington, so there a few bars, but they will most likely be uber-crowded. The best options seem to be Sherlocks Baker Street Pub or the Winghouse of Arlington. Both are near entrances to the I-30.

Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys Tickets

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