Rib lovers may not want to read any further. Heinz Field announced the cancelation of one of its premiere annual events, The Kickoff Ribfest.
The Ribfest, which was scheduled to begin on September 3rd, takes place every year just before the start of the NFL season. Heinz Field released a statement about the tough decision to cancel this year’s event in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement from Heinz Field regarding the 2020 Rib Fest pic.twitter.com/tDNswvqAaO
— Acrisure Stadium (@AcrisureStadium) August 4, 2020
The statement tweeted out by the official Heinz Field Twitter account Tuesday afternoon includes, “the health and safety of all attendee, employees and vendors was the primary factor into the decision to cancel this year’s event,” making it clear the virus was what led to the canceling of the event.
The Kickoff Rib Festival, which features concerts, national rib vendors, games and more, started in 1990 at Three Rivers Stadium and has been held every year since. After the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium in 2001, Heinz Field continued the tradition.