Gates

The gates at Heinz Field will begin opening at 5 p.m. today for the 8 p.m. kickoff of the Steelers' game against the Cleveland Browns.

The Coca-Cola Great Hall and the South Plaza (Gates A and B) will open at 5 p.m. Gate C (access to the seating bowl, club lounges and suites) will open at 6 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early enough to pass through stadium security checks.

Heinz Field guidelines

Fans also are reminded of the following stadium policies and concerns:

Coolers, bags, backpacks, Thermoses and large purses (larger than 8 1/2 by 11) are prohibited. Small purses, fanny packs, small camera cases, binocular cases and diaper bags are permitted. All bags are subject to inspection, and those that do not pass security must be returned to vehicles.

Oversized vehicles are prohibited from traveling around Heinz Field on Steelers game day.

Fans should watch out for counterfeit tickets when attempting to make a purchase from scalpers. A number of counterfeit tickets have been sold outside of recent local college and professional sporting events. Fans are advised to only purchase tickets from the Steelers ticket office, the sole licensed distributor of Steelers tickets.

Parking

The Steelers and Heinz Field management also offer these guidelines for parking:

Fans without pre-sold parking and those paying cash who arrive after late afternoon should use parking areas in the Golden Triangle, Station Square or one of the Port Authority's regional Park and Ride Lots.

For $5, Golden Triangle parking is available at eight Pittsburgh Parking Authority Garages, the Mon Wharf and the Convention Center. Private garages with $5 parking include the PPG Building, Fifth Avenue Place and US Steel Building.

From Downtown parking lots, fans can access Heinz Field via sidewalks on the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the Ft. Duquesne Bridge.

Reserved, pre-sold parking lots around the stadium open at 3 p.m. Tailgating is permitted in the pre-sold lots surrounding the stadium.

Port Authority shuttle buses from First Ave. (98F) and the Strip District (98D) will operate two hours before kickoff and 45 minutes after the game. Fares are $1.25 (from Golden Triangle to Heinz Field) or $1.75 one way. All buses will travel across the Clemente Bridge. Stops include Liberty Avenue across from the Wood Street "T" Station, Liberty Avenue at Heinz Hall and Sixth Avenue at Ft. Duquesne Blvd.

Fans can board the "T" at the First Avenue Station and ride free to and from the Gateway Center Station.

The Gateway Clipper Fleet Steelers shuttles will operate from the Mon Wharf (where parking costs $5 and exiting after games is quick) and from Station Square.

New this year are four regional bus routes to and from Heinz Field, one each for the north, east, south and west. The rates are $1.75 each way in Zone 1 and $2.25 each way in Zone 2. These new routes provide quick door-to-door service between their free parking lots and Heinz Field.

All regional routes will operate four trips from their respective lots beginning two hours and thirty minutes (2 1/2 hours) before kickoff. Riders will be dropped off on North Shore Drive at Art Rooney Avenue near Gate A.

Four trips will return to each respective lot beginning 20 minutes after the end of the game with the last trip departing 45 minutes after the game's completion. Return trips will depart Heinz Field from West General Robinson Street between Art Rooney Avenue and Tony Dorsett Drive.

Riders seeking the nearest Park and Ride lots should contact Port Authority Customer Service at (412) 442-2000.