I very much agree with this. And, unlike the Steelers who sport black and yellow, Pitt wear blue and gold so the empties stand out. Ironically, when Pitt flips to the alternate/retro look given the pants and helmet match color of the bulk of seats, they won't stand out as much. But, really, aside from PRIME home games, Pitt should tarp the upper deck end zone bleachers. That's it. Nothing more is really necessary in my view. Given they're bleachers and not individual seats with a back, that likely reduces capacity by nearly 10K.
Heinz Field is the third largest capacity in the ACC behind only FSU and Clemson. The ideal capacity for a good/great Pitt fooball program is between 50K and 55K not unlike teams like Stanford, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado, Rutgers, etc. In the ACC the ideal comparisons are Georgia Tech and Miami. Georgia Tech's home field, like old Pitt Stadium, is 55K. While Miami will reduce capacity to just over 50K for not elite opponents by using the method pictured below after Hard Rock Stadium is renovated.
I see no shame in tarp. The Raiders do it, baseball teams do it and other college teams have done and continue to do it. Now, aside from the end zone upper deck. I would consider the corner far most corner of each upper deck sideline as well. But, honestly, the cleanest, simplest solution is to eliminate the end zone bleachers. I would do exactly as Oakland does. A large mass of blue with a gold Pitt script or a large mass of gold with a blue Pitt script. Whatever they feel would look more appealing in reducing Heinz capacity to somewhere between 50K and 60K. Fans will be more concentrated and not spread out in the upper decks which would improve atmosphere and overall, having a giant tarp with an enormous Pitt script would look awesome from afar and awesome while in the stadium if sold 55 of a 58 capacity or what have you. And, again, like Miami and other teams, open the seats up to Pitt season ticket holders FIRST for the marquis opponents that Pitt would draw 68K.
