50,000 people expected to pack into Acrisure Stadium for Pittsburgh Supercross event
Tens of thousands of people are expected to pack into Acrisure Stadium this weekend as Supercross is returning to Pittsburgh for the first time in over 40 years.
26 million pounds of dirt have been moved into the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers as some of the top Supercross racers in the country will be gearing up to hit the track on Saturday.
Sean Brennen, Director of Public Relations for Monster Energy Supercross, said it's been a long time since dirtbike racing has been held in Pittsburgh at this level.
"This is gonna be special," Brennen said. "We are super excited about being here."
Brennen said the tickets for the Pittsburgh stop on the Supercross tour have been the hottest ones of the season.
"This has been a fast ticket," Brennen said. "We have a rich fanbase here in Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Ohio. There will be people coming from a 600-mile radius around here."
Brennen said the racers taking part in Saturday's event are the fastest in the world, saying that Supercross is "the NFL of dirtbike racing."
"It doesn't get any bigger than what we're going to see at Acrisure Stadium," Brennen said.
Pittsburgh-area racers participating in Supercross on Saturday
There are cheers for JR Saunier as he's welcomed back.
"It's crazy – just even driving up here," Saunier said. "I didn't think it was real. And then when I got here, I was like, yeah, this is crazy."
He went to Hopewell Area High School in Beaver County.
On Thursday morning, he showed the current kids what he does before showing out this weekend in front of a home crowd.
"This whole season – I was like I want to be healthy, at least – want to get to Pittsburgh," Saunier said. "And now being here – it's like – feels so home to me."
He's competing in this weekend's super motocross championship round at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
There are athletes from over 2 dozen countries!
"These are the fastest racers in the world – this is the NFL of dirt bike racing," Sean Brennen, from the Super Motocross World Championship, said.
They'll be racing on 26 million pounds of dirt. The tarps will protect a lot of it until practice and qualifiers tomorrow.
"Right now, it looks like a large slippy slide," Brennan said. "But that is all because of the great Pittsburgh weather that may be coming in here."
Outside, the parking lots are ready for Saturday's sold-out fan fest!
"The fans just love it -- because they can get up close to the motorcycles," Brennen said. "They can get up close and meet athletes."
50,000 fans are expected inside on Saturday night.
"We have a rich fanbase here in Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Ohio," Brennen said. "There will be people coming from a 600-mile radius around here."
It's the first time in the Steel City since 1983.
Broc Glover won it that year, and he's got the hardware to prove it.
"I just remember – it was a drizzly day that day," Brennen said. "Even though it was in July, the weather wasn't the best – but it wasn't horrible."
All the athletes are hoping for good weather – and a good time.
"It's just gonna be a good moment to be down there," Saunier said.
For Saunier, it's not all old hat.
"I've never really been on the field – so just being down there and seeing what it looks like down there is gonna be great," he said.
What's the schedule for Saturday's Supercross events?
A fanfest event will get underway at 12:00 p.m. alongside qualifying, which also starts at 12:00.
Opening ceremonies at Acrisure Stadium will take place at 6:30 p.m. and the race will get underway at 7 p.m.
