PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Pittsburgh has some great venues for athletic competition. But Highmark Stadium is the only one that simultaneously manages both breathtaking scale and true intimacy. This is where you go for views to rival PNC Park — right alongside an inviting, “Friday Night Lights”-style atmosphere.

The stadium, which opened in 2013, is the home of the increasingly popular Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club. This year, another tenant moved in: the Pittsburgh Riveters, a new women’s team that competes in the USL W League. The young club sold out their inaugural game on Friday, May 16, packing the grandstands and the rowdy Supporters Section behind the east goal.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Those seats, where fans chant and beat drums from the first minute through the final whistle, are peak football atmosphere: For both the Riveters and the Riverhounds, fans here are raucous, knowledgeable and passionate. If you’re new to the game, however, you may want to opt for the main seating area. The size of the pitch will surprise fans — for reference, an entire regulation basketball court fits in the penalty box in front of the goal alone — so you’ll want a head-on view to follow the action.

Also, these seats afford the best views of the Downtown skyline, seemingly from right at its feet. Your view of the action will be framed by towering skyscrapers across the river.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Before the game, you can queue up for concessions that aren’t precisely cheap but are considerably more affordable than those at the larger stadiums on the other side of the Point: Hot dogs cost less than $6, and you can find a domestic beer for under $10. You also can stroll around the concourse, taking in the sights and sounds of a game day held at a stadium you can get your arms around.

It’s a great experience, and quintessentially Pittsburgh: Steel beams, rowdy fans, cold beer and the skyline beyond.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Insider’s Tip

The Supporters Section is by far the best part of the stadium in terms of energy and excitement — and it often boasts the cheapest tickets. Unfortunately, it’s also in direct sunlight for most of the game. If you opt for the rowdier end of the pitch, come prepared with shades and sunscreen; if you want to get out of the sun, though, sit elsewhere.

While You’re Here

Pop into the lovely Corona Cantina, tucked under the luxury boxes, and try the in-house beer. Hounds Pale Ale is a crisp and refreshing offering — and it’s a sneaky contender for the best beer in the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. lineup.