Momentum Builds with Major Bids, Signature Summer Events, and Global Soccer Spotlight
From NCAA and Rugby World Cup bids to PVGP and the World Cup Fan Zone, Pittsburgh's sports scene stays active, connected, and future-focused.
A Message from Jim Britt
Vice President, Sports Events - SportsPITTSBURGH
Here at SportsPITTSBURGH, we are coming out of our busiest event delivery period of the year (March through May) and continuing to operate at a high level of activity.
This summer, our focus is forward-looking and centered on several key priorities. We are actively working on multiple NCAA championship bids due in August, as well as maintaining ongoing discussions with the Rugby World Cup selection committee on a bid also due in August. These efforts, along with other strategic opportunities currently in development, will help define SportsPITTSBURGH’s event portfolio through at least 2031.
As our team works to place Pittsburgh in the conversation as a premier sports destination, our work is bolstered by the daily evidence appearing across our region. The recent viral moment of Paul Skenes thoughtfully and effortlessly visiting a youth baseball field to spend time with some fellow ball players provides the latest in a long line of Pittsburgh sports superstars matching the genuine and grounded personality of our region.
These are not isolated instances—they reflect the broader sports culture in this region. Whether it is the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, Riverhounds, or events like the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, Pittsburgh maintains a strong, year-round commitment to sports. That strength is reflected in consistent fan engagement, strong attendance across events, and a community that shows up in meaningful ways.
That ongoing passion and engagement continues to be one of our strongest assets as we position SportsPITTSBURGH for the future and our team is grateful for the opportunity to share that passion with the world.
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Remains Staple of City’s Summer Calendar
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP) was established in 1983 as a world-class racing event that would entertain but also raise funds to provide care and support for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Western Pennsylvania.
Now, 44 years later, that mission continues and the PVGP has grown into an impressive array of events that will take place over a nine-day period in July this summer.
The festivities will open with a Black Tie & Tailpipes Gala at the Kamin Science Center on the North Shore (July 11). There will be car shows featuring classic, antique and exotic vehicles at a variety of spots around Pittsburgh -- including Shadyside (July 13), Sewickley and The Waterfront in Homestead (July 14), and Downtown at PPG Place and South Side Works (July 15). Also to be celebrated will be the popular Grand Prix Garden Party at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (July 16). Then the culmination of the PVGP will be races and a massive car show featuring more than 3,000 vehicles out at Schenley Park in Oakland (July 18-19).
“It’s a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s what we’re here for,” said PVGP executive director Dan DelBianco. “I’ve been doing this for 24 years now. I learned a while ago that it’s better if I enjoy it -- and honestly, that’s pretty easy to do.
“We’ve got about 1,200 dedicated volunteers who make all this happen. That’s what’s so great about Pittsburgh. I wonder if any other city in the country could pull this off. We’ve got 50 volunteers that have been here since the first year in 1983. There’s definitely family and longevity to this. Some families have three generations of volunteers out there with us.”
When asked to describe what it’s like to be at Schenley Park for race weekend, DelBianco said, “It’s something that has to be experienced. We’ve got a car show on the golf course at the same time as we’re racing vintage cars. And the car show has got some spectacular cars. There are many, many car shows across the country but this one is incredible and none of the others have vintage cars racing around them.
“And if you’ve been to the races, you know how loud is gets, and the intensity part of it. Sometimes I think the term ‘vintage cars’ makes people think it’s not real racing. But it is. These are cars we all grew up admiring. It’s not the old idea of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’”
DelBianco, who was raised in Whitehall Borough in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, came by his interest in classic cars honestly.
“I remember when I was growing up and there was a guy one street over who had a Shelby (Mustang), and we used to sit on the wall of his driveway and just stare at it,” he said with a laugh. “So, this really is about the cars that you grew up with.”
One of the aspects of the PVGP that has surprised DelBianco most over the years has been the camaraderie among race car owners and drivers.
“They all work together. They’re all friends,” he said. “They race against each other, yes. But they also help each other fix their cars. They’re lending each other mufflers and other parts and helping each other work on their cars so they can get out there and race together.
“There’s a real sense of community. This is their event. This is their Super Bowl and what they all look forward to every year. The drivers, the car clubs and the volunteers are all so very passionate.”
World Cup Fan Zone Coming to Acrisure Stadium
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s premier international men’s soccer competition, is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The field was expanded to a record 48 teams this year, making it the largest World Cup ever. This also marks the first time the tournament has been hosted by three countries simultaneously.
Action got underway on June 11 in Mexico City, and the final match is scheduled to take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The defending champion, Argentina, took the crown at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
U.S cities hosting matches during the global showcase this time around will include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
In an exciting opportunity for Western Pennsylvania, Acrisure Stadium will be the site for what’s being called a World Cup Fan Zone -- a free, multi-day celebration at the home of the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh’s Panthers. Festivities will include World Cup match watch parties and all-ages programming that will include live music, youth soccer clinics and other family-friendly experiences.
The Pittsburgh World Cup Fan Zone schedule of events is as follows:
Saturday, July 4 | 11am-10 pm
Watch Party and America 250 Festival
1pm | Round of 16 Knockout Match
5pm | Round of 16 Knockout Match
After 8pm | Free concert by country artist Brett Young and fireworks show
Sunday, July 5 | 2pm-10pm
Watch Party and America 250 Festival
4pm | Round of 16 Knockout Match
8pm | Round of 16 Knockout Match
Thursday, July 9 | 2pm-7pm
Watch Party
4pm | Quarterfinal Match
Sunday, July 19 | 2 pm-6pm
Watch Party
3pm | FIFA World Cup Final
