The first event held at Heinz Field was a concert hosted by the band 'N Sync , on August 18 , 2001 . Coincidentally , they were also the last band to perform at the Steelers ' previous home , Three Rivers Stadium . Prior to the Steelers regular season schedule , the team played a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions on August 25 , 2001 . Pittsburgh won the stadium 's unofficial opening game 20 – 7 , with 57,829 spectators in attendance . The first official football game played in the stadium was between the Pittsburgh Panthers and East Tennessee State , on September 1 . The Panthers won the game 31 – 0 , with quarterback David Priestley scoring the first touchdown on an 85-yard run . The Steelers were scheduled to open the regular season play at Heinz Field on September 16 against the Cleveland Browns ; however , due to the September 11 attacks , all NFL games of the week were postponed , thus moving the stadium 's premiere to October 7 , against the Cincinnati Bengals . Prior to the game , a speech from US President George W. Bush , ordering attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan , was shown live on the stadium 's JumboTron . The speech was met with much applause and support from the spectators in attendance . Pittsburgh defeated the Bengals , 16 – 7 . Steelers kicker Kris Brown scored the first NFL points in the stadium on a 26-yard field goal , and quarterback Kordell Stewart scored the first touchdown on an eight-yard run
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Heinz Field