The Steelers yesterday said that they "don't plan to renew their sponsorship of free T service that brings thousands of fans to Heinz Field, raising questions about who's going to pay for the rides," according to Bobby Kerlik of the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW. The agreement "expires in five weeks, but other sponsors are in the mix, and agency officials have said interest is high." Two months ago, the Steelers said that they "planned to re-up as one of four sponsors under the original terms." The Port Authority of Allegheny County at the time said that "other bidders were offering a better deal." The Port Authority "has not said who the other bidders are." The Steelers, Rivers Casino, Alco Parking and the Sports & Exhibition Authority "contributed $380,000 in the past year of the existing deal." Rivers Casino spokesperson Emily Watts "confirmed that the casino proposed renewing its sponsorship," but "declined to comment further." Kerlik notes the Pirates "were not a part of the original deal," and a team spokesperson "did not return a message" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 2/24). Steelers Communications Coordinator Burt Lauten yesterday said that the Port Authority "rejected the Steelers' offer to extend their participation in the agreement for two years, saying it had 'other options' for sponsorship of Allegheny Station, which is adjacent to Heinz Field" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/24).
