Panther Nation,
Throughout my first 15 months as Athletic Director, I’ve had the privilege of listening to the heartbeat of Pitt Athletics. From conversations with student-athletes, to coaches, to donors and fans, there is an acknowledgment that the landscape of college sports is changing faster than at any point in history. Among other things, revenue sharing, NIL, transfer portal, legal entanglements, and evolving NCAA regulations have fundamentally altered how we must operate.
While much of the work required to rebuild our foundation hasn’t always been visible, I want you to know it’s been intentional and necessary. Over the past year, we’ve restructured our leadership team to align with these new realities. We’ve added key personnel to modernize our internal operations, revenue generation, commercial enterprise and philanthropic engagement. We’re also enhancing our capabilities in NIL operations, data analytics and multimedia storytelling. Additionally, we’ve realigned our philosophical approach, ensuring every decision we make is grounded in supporting our student-athletes while positioning Pitt to compete at the highest level.
That positioning starts with the fan experience. One of the most consistent pieces of feedback I’ve received has been about the game day atmosphere at Acrisure Stadium. You’ve told me you want a better home field advantage, one that ignites our team, and reflects your passion for Pitt Football.
Throughout last season, our administrative team carefully observed every aspect of the game day experience and identified key enhancements for 2026. Our goal is clear: transform Pitt Football into a must-attend event, not just another game on the schedule. Today’s announcement is just the first step in showing we’re committed to being both creative and bold in pursuing every opportunity that strengthens our program.
Beginning with the 2026 season, the upper East and West sides of Acrisure Stadium will be off-line for Pitt Football games, adjusting the capacity to 51,416. The North end zone upper deck remains available and student seating stays at 10,000 seats per game, preserving the Panther Pitt as the heartbeat of our stadium environment.
Existing upper-level season ticket holders will have priority access to lower-level inventory that is currently available at comparable prices to their existing seats.
Our priority is to create the best student-athlete and fan experience for Pitt and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
This approach will deliver a more intimate, electric game day experience for our fans and an incredible atmosphere for our student-athletes to compete in. We’re excited to roll out additional fan experience initiatives as the 2026 season approaches that will make the North Shore and Acrisure Stadium the place to be for college football in the fall.
Transforming the game day experience is just one piece of a much larger vision. This spring semester, we will be developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the future of Pitt Athletics. This plan will serve as our guiding post as we enter the 2026-27 season and beyond, touching every aspect of our department and ensuring we’re positioned for sustained success.
The strategic plan will have five working groups, focused on charting our course of action:
Student-Athlete Experience: Our student-athletes are at the heart of everything we do. From life skills and leadership development to compliance support and academic excellence, we’re committed to providing comprehensive resources that help them thrive in competition, in the classroom, and in life. The opening of Victory Heights will transform the experience for many of our programs, providing a world-class facility that matches our championship ambitions.
Competitive Excellence: Football and men’s basketball are the engines that drive our entire department. We need to make sure these programs are supported and have the resources to match our expectations for their championship success. This includes navigating the new era of college athletics with comprehensive revenue sharing and NIL strategies that keep our student-athletes supported and our programs competitive.
Engagement and Brand Management: We’re building a multimedia content ecosystem that tells the incredible stories of our student-athletes and connects fans to Pitt Athletics like never before. From game day atmosphere to digital storytelling, we’re creating touchpoints that showcase the pride and excellence of Pitt Athletics across every platform.
Revenue Generation and Resource Acquisition: We’re reimagining our Panther Club strategy to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with our donors while aligning with the University’s broader campaign efforts. Your investment in Pitt Athletics has never been more critical. We’re also focused on maximizing revenue across all our programs to ensure we have the resources needed to compete at the highest level.
Operational Excellence: As we build our FY 2027 budget and beyond, we’re committed to fiscal responsibility and operational excellence while making smart, strategic investments and maintaining the long-term financial health of our department.
Success requires all of us moving in the same direction. It requires your investment and engagement. That’s where the opportunity lies.
When you invest in Pitt Athletics, you’re investing in something bigger than yourself. You’re part of championship moments, unforgettable game day experiences, and the development of young people who will lead this community for generations. You get to share in the pride of representing this university and this city on the national stage.
For the businesses that call Pittsburgh home, there’s never been a better time to align your brand with Pitt Athletics. Our student-athletes, our programs, and our platform offer meaningful partnership opportunities that connect you to a passionate fan base and a community that takes pride in its teams. When Pitt Athletics succeeds, the city of Pittsburgh wins.
I also want to hear from you. My team and I are here to serve our student-athletes, but also you, our loyal fans. When you see me at a game or in the community, feel free to stop me and let me know how we’re doing. You can also email me your feedback at [email protected] and we will follow up.
I have tremendous optimism about where we are headed. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff come to work every day aiming to make you proud. The foundation we’ve built over the past 15 months positions us to compete, to win, and to represent this university and this city with excellence. With your support, we’re going to create something truly special here at Pitt.
Let’s build this together!
Hail to Pitt!
Allen Greene
Director of Athletics
