Pitt AD Scott Barnes held a "Town Hall" event for fans Tuesday prior to the men's basketball team's game against NC State, and he "mostly focused on his assessment of the athletic department in his first six months on the job," according to Sam Werner of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. During a Q&A session with the 450 fans in attendance, one of the "most common themes was a dissatisfaction with the stadium atmosphere at Heinz Field for football." There were suggestions that Pitt "could do more to brand the stadium and make it feel like its own." Barnes said that Pitt is "actively working with the Steelers to try and find improvements, but declined to give specifics." Barnes added that Pitt is “'seriously' considering expanding alcohol sales to the general seating areas at Heinz Field, noting that trend seemingly [is] growing across the country." He said that the plan was to make the Town Hall an "annual event." Barnes: "It’s part of what we talked about from day one, transparency and trying to open lines of communication" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/20). In Pittsburgh, Jerry DiPaola noted there also were "questions about football scheduling, and Barnes indicated there appears to be a nationwide move to eliminate FCS games for FBS schools." It "won't happen immediately" as Pitt opens its '16 season against Villanova. But Barnes said, “It's trending that way" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/20).
