‘We’re all happy he’s back’: Fans gather in Pittsburgh for Kenny Chesney concert

The country music singer has drawn huge crowds in the city since his first show in 2005.

By BRIAN C. RITTMEYER Trib Total Media

The sun had not been up for long Saturday before members of “No Shoes Nation” began gathering on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for Kenny Chesney’s “Sun Goes Down” tour that night at Acrisure Stadium.

They came by land and by sea, from near and from far — with and without tickets — for Chesney’s 12th stadium show in the Steel City since 2005 and his first since the venue’s 2022 renaming, which came shortly after his last appearance at what was then Heinz Field.

“We’re here to have a good time and celebrate the start of summer,” said Crystal Kisner of Shaler, who may or may not have been referring to the fact that Saturday was the start of meteorological summer.

Tailgaters streamed into parking lots by midday, setting up tables of food and drink, hoisting celebratory flags and playing games, many involving ping-pong balls and red cups.

Niko Rosso of Jeannette was expecting about 90 people — from Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Cleveland — for a reunion of friends. He said they arrived at 10:30 a.m. and were the first in their lot.

“It’s just a blast eveiy year,” he said. “It’s a perfect time to get back together. There’s no better place to tailgate than Kenny Chesney in Pittsburgh.”

Boats had been moored along the river for weeks ahead of the show, with friends and family coming to tie alongside, creating rows stretching several deep into the Allegheny River.

Glenn Brenneman of Peters was among the boaters, with his vessel third in a line.

“I won’t be surprised if we’re 10 deep by the end of the day,” he said. “It will be like that most of the way up.”

Brenneman said what he likes about Chesney is that he’s “positive.”

“His shows are so positive and good. You walk out feeling better about the world,” he said.

“He’s like Jimmy Buffet with a better voice.”

Chesney’s fans were far from alone in enjoying a sunny and comfortably warm day in the city Saturday. In addition to the concert, throngs were flocking to the city for events including the Three Rivers Arts Festival and the Pittsburgh Pride march.

Kisner and her husband, Wes, were among concertgoers well aware of the reputation past Chesney crowds had earned for trashing the North Shore. It was because of those problems they had stopped coming, skipping shows in 2016 and 2018, until returning in 2022.

Wes said they were hoping through their conduct to change the stigma. That change may have started in 2022, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, when reports said the lots were left in far better shape than the prior two concert years.

“We are tailgating responsibly and we see others doing the same,” Crystal said. “We’re all doing the right thing. We’re all so appreciative to have this opportunity to be here. It’s going to go off without a hitch. We’re all happy he’s back.”

For some, the tailgating started before they even reached the parking lots. Ryan Moran of Johnstown was among those hanging out around their vehicles on North Shore Drive in front of the stadium as they waited for the lots to open. He first saw Chesney in 2022.

“I just like country music,” he said. “I don’t care who it is.”

Steve Williams of Franklin Park and Josh Hallmark of Banksville were setting up a sandbar along the river before noon.

The parking lots. Hallmark said, are too wild for their taste.

“This is a much more relaxed environment,” Williams said.

Williams said he grabbed the last spot available for his pontoon boat two weeks ago. He was expecting a couple more boats to arrive and about 50 people in total. Williams didn’t have a ticket to get into the stadium.

“It’s more fun out here,” he said. Pittsburgh was the 10th stop on Chesney’s 2024 “Sun Goes Down” tour, which started April 20 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. He’ll next be at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on June 6. The tour ends with three shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Aug. 23, 24 and 25.

Christian Pfrogner of Jeannette and girlfriend Karsyn Moulayianis of North Huntingdon play beer pong during a reunion of their college friends while tailgating for the Kenny Chesney concert Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.

Shane Dunlap / Trib Total Media