The Steelers, originally known as the Pittsburgh Pirates, adapted the team’s name to better represent the city’s prominent steel industry.

(image: http://bit.ly/1i0b7X5)

The name of one of the league’s most successful teams is just one example of how the steel has influenced the widely popular sport of football. Here are a few ways that steel makes football possible.

Helmets and Face Masks

When American football was first introduced, it was not mandatory for players to wear protective head gear. Hardened leather was invented early in the 1920s, after which footballers began wearing leather helmets. It wasn’t until the mid-1940s that helmets became required by the National Football League. By 1950, most players wore helmets more similar to the ones we see today. Face masks were introduced in 1955, to further prevent injury of the entire head. Today, face masks are made of materials including titanium, stainless steel and carbon steel.

(image: http://bit.ly/1fERVfE)

Stadiums

The University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, is recognized as one of the most innovative building designs in the world. The only sports facility with a completely retractable grass field, it also features a retractable roof which opens in only twelve minutes. The shape resembles a barrel cactus, a plant that is commonly found in the Arizona desert. A total of 462 steel wheels, riding on thirteen parallel steel rails slide the grass field tray in and out of the facility.

(image: http://bit.ly/1EiNFP3)

Goal Posts

At either end of every football field are goal posts. Even non-football fans recognize the hand signals for touchdown. Goal posts consist of a crossbar placed 3 meters off the ground and two vertical bars (known as uprights), which are placed 5.4 meters apart and extend 9 meters above the crossbar

(image: http://bit.ly/1UcaMwk)

Game Day

The NFL is made up of the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The season lasts seventeen weeks and ends with the season winners of the NFC and the AFC, meeting at the Super Bowl, one of the biggest sports events in the U.S. The 2015 season will end with the 50^th Super Bowl event in February. Keep up with the NFL season schedule at www.nfl.com.

University of Phoenix Stadium 

(Image Source: University of Phoenix Stadium Official Website)

Located in Glendale Arizona in America, University of Phoenix Stadium is a multi-purpose facility with unique features of retractable steel roof and field. The 63,400-seat stadium, which is expandable to 72,200, have the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and Annual VIZIO Fiesta Bowl as the primary tenants. As a marvel of design, engineering, and technology, the stadium was voted as one of the top ten sports facilities in the world by Business Week in 2006.

Here are some facts that even football enthusiasts might have not known before. With a solid mission for the environment, University of Phoenix Stadium is a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). When tailgating, a big part of game day experience, guests are given complimentary recyclable bags for disposal of recyclable materials. While the 10% of stadium’s seating is made from recycled plastic, the venue uses “Green” products such as hand soap, all cleaning solutions, microfiber mops and rags to preserve water and the environment.

Another interesting fact about the stadium is that the stadium’s field is wheeled in and out on 546 steel wheels that ride along 13 parallel steel rails, traveling 741 feet. It is almost unimaginable to guess how much steel was used for the construction!

(Reference: University of Phoenix Stadium Official Website)

Allianz Arena

(Image Source: Allianz Arena Official Website)

Allianz Arena, Europe’s contemporary stadium, with the size of more than 70,000 spectators, is the third home for FC Bayern Munich. Its extraordinary facade, covered with 2,760 diamond-shaped cushions, constantly amazes visitors. The stadium is always filled with fans every season because of the tenant team’s star players and other facilities such as outstanding catering and parking space at the venue.

As a special feature, Allianz Arena is lit in red when the host team is Bayern Munich, in blue when it is 1860 Munich, and in white when the German national team hosts the football match.

For the construction of Allianz Arena, approximately 22,000 tons of steel was used. The retractable roof is where massive amount of the steel was applied to. Overall, the stadium was warmly welcomed by the Munich community and more than 60 percent considered Allianz Arena as a favorable construction project. According to “Cicero”, political journal, the stadium became Germany’s favorite sports location.

(Reference: Allianz Arena Official Website)

Estádio Municipal de Aveiro

(Image Source: Panoramio)

Located in Aveiro, Portugal, Estádio Municipal de Aveiro Stadium was designed for UEFA Euro 2004 tournament as the fifth-largest football ground of the country. A home ground for Sport Clube Beira-Mar of the Segunda Liga, the stadium is a venue for various football matches including the Portugal national team games.

Estádio Municipal de Aveiro Stadium is known for its dynamic design which is a combination of simple shapes and lively colors. Designed by Tomás Taveira, the stadium benefits from its cheerful colors as the intense tonalities bring out the celebration atmosphere of sporting events. Examples of the polychromic feature are red steel pylons, sky-blue edges of the roof and seating areas of rainbow shades. Having a capacity for 32,830 spectators and the special design features, the stadium is visually appealing both empty and full of people.

(Reference: Wikipedia)

Michigan Stadium

(Image Source: MGoBlue)

One of the America’s most classic stadium, Michigan Stadium, also known as the Big House, is a symbolic icon of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Opened in 1927, which was the golden age of college football, the stadium was modeled after the Yale Bowl and was constructed with 440 tons of reinforcing steel and 31,000 square feet of wire mesh. Started with an initial capacity of 84,401, the venue currently upholds up to 109,901 spectators after a major renovation in 2010. Although the stadium is not known for extravagant colors or sleek, modern design, the stadium embodies its own meaning as one of the oldest and largest college football arenas in America.

(Reference Source: MGoBlue)

Wembley Stadium

(Image Source: Wembley Stadium Official Website)

Sponsored by EE, Wembley Stadium is a multiplex football stadium in Wembley Park, London, United Kingdom. Wembley Stadium is known for hosting major football matches, such as FA Cup Finals and home ground matches for England National Football Team. Wembley Stadium opened in 2007 after demolishing the previous Wembley Stadium. The stadium has a retractable roof, just as many other modern stadiums, and 134m-high Wembley Arch over the venue. .

Wembley Stadium is one of UEFA category 4 stadiums. Category 4 is the highest of the category. With 90,000 in capacity, Wembley Stadium is the second largest stadium in Europe and largest in the United Kingdom. Considering the immense size of the structure, which even contains 2,618 toilets, about 23,000 tons of steel were used for its renovation. This stadium is currently owned by the Football Association where HRH the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) being the current president.

(Reference: Wembley Stadium Official Website)

As shown, today’s large venues, especially these amazing stadiums, are built on steel skeletons. As an essential material for the modern world, steel will continue to evolve into even more ambitious and innovative creatures in the future.