Limited North Shore tailgating time yields success

When cleaning crews arrived at parking lots at the end of Jason Aldean's country music concert at PNC Park on a warm and hazy Saturday night in July, they confronted the unmistakable evidence of a big party.

Beer cans. Trash bags. Tree logs weighing up to 150 pounds filled with nails used for a drinking game played with hammers known as “Stump.”

But Leroy Stotler, owner of Three Rivers Power Sweep, didn't have to rent out a snow plow to collect the trash, like he did a month before.

“You definitely saw a reduction in the amount of trash left behind,” Stotler said. “I think that's a direct result of not allowing the people into the lots early.”

Aldean's “Burn it Down” tour was the first under the city's crackdown on North Shore concert tailgaters. City and parking officials say the policies helped curb trash and safety concerns.

In June, the city announced it would limit tailgating hours for concerts because of a Luke Bryan performance during which 911 dispatchers take 250 calls for police and medic services.

Pittsburgh police made eight arrests and issued 37 citations. The number of arrests, and the volume of trash left behind, triggered Mayor Bill Peduto's administration to meet with parking lot and stadium officials to adopt new policies.

A major change for Aldean's concert, which drew 30,000 people compared to about 50,000 for Bryan, was keeping lots closed longer. They opened at 2 p.m. instead of 10 a.m., and lot attendants handed out two trash bags per vehicle — black for garbage, blue for recycling – to keep the ground clean.

Stotler said the Bryan show resulted in about 200 cubic yards of trash hauled away. At Aldean, it was 130 cubic yards. Stotler said those figures are relatively comparable, but the bagged trash made the scene easier to clean.

This fall, as Steelers and late-season Pirates games continue tailgating traditions, the North Shore will operate under the old rules and regulations.

Mayor Bill Peduto spokesman Tim McNulty said concerts are different than regularly occurring sports games. But tailgating policies are handled on a case-by-case basis, he said.

“We want to hold the football tailgating crowd to the same standard of being clean as we would for anybody else,” McNulty said. “If there's any issue that comes up, certainly, we'd address them.”

Rules open parking lots four hours prior to Pirates games, and five hours before kickoff at Heinz Field.

This Saturday, nearly 90,000 people could converge on the North Shore. The University of Pittsburgh has its football season opener beginning at noon at Heinz Field.

The Pirates play Cincinnati at 4:05 p.m. And the Heinz Field Rib Festival begins at 10 a.m. with concerts scheduled throughout the afternoon.

McNulty said planning for the day involved consulting with stadium, parking and public safety officials.

City officials are considering enacting rules for boaters partying at the North Shore, McNulty said, but nothing is imminent.

Ralph Reetz, general manager for Alco Parking Cop., which owns about 6,000 spaces on the North Shore, said the limited tailgate time improved operations.

“We were always in favor of reducing the hours,” Reetz said.

Stotler anticipates this weekend will be busy, with crews planning to clean the lots throughout the day.

“Based on what the event is and what time it is ... it changes what our preparations are,” he said.

Melissa Daniels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8511 or mdaniels@tribweb.com.