Pitt head football coach Paul Chryst announced on Thursday that this year’s Pitt Spring… Pitt head football coach Paul Chryst announced on Thursday that this year’s Pitt Spring Football Festival and Blue-Gold Scrimmage on April 14 will be held at North Hills High School instead of Heinz Field.

Chryst said in a release that he decided to move the spring game to North Hills in order to embrace the tradition of high school football in western Pennsylvania. North Hills is located about 15 minutes from Pitt’s campus.

“I may be new to Pittsburgh, but I’ve respected and known about the traditions of western Pennsylvania high school football for a long time,” Chryst said. “As a first-year coaching staff, we feel it is important to get out and engage the people and communities who have built that tradition. The spring game is a perfect opportunity to do this, and we’re really looking forward to visiting North Hills in April.”

The game will be held at Martorelli Stadium. Gates will open at 11 a.m. with a youth clinic at 11:30 a.m., followed by the annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage at 1 p.m.

North Hills High School athletic director Dan Cardone said in a release that Pitt is beginning a “new and exciting era” with Chryst and that North Hills is “honored” to be a part of the first spring game of his tenure.

“This is another stellar example of how Pittsburgh’s highest-profile football teams, the Panthers and the Steelers, are invested in the communities of western Pennsylvania,” Cardone said. “It is a winning equation for everyone involved and we’re excited about hosting Pitt next month.”