The Baltimore Ravens come to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, December 20, 2026. If you only make one trip to Pittsburgh for football, most people here would tell you to make it this one. It is the meanest rivalry in the AFC North, it is late December with something on the line, and the building sounds different for it.
This books out. Early. Baltimore is about four hours away, which is close enough that a large travelling contingent makes the drive, and it lands the weekend before Christmas when the city is already full of holiday visitors. Two separate demand waves, one weekend. Lodging on the North Shore and Downtown for Dec 18–21 is among the tightest of the entire year.
Football and Christmas in one trip
The timing is actually a gift. The Holiday Market and the rink at PPG Place are running, Kennywood Holiday Lights is in full swing, and the Nutcracker is on at the Benedum. Come in Friday, do the city Saturday, football Sunday. That is a genuinely great December weekend, and the non-football people in your group will thank you.
Why a home beats a hotel for a December rivalry game
Tailgating in late December is a different sport. A kitchen to cook out of, somewhere warm to thaw out afterward, parking, and room for everyone who drove in — then one house to come back to instead of a cold hotel lot and a four-hour drive south.
A note for groups driving in. Our Greeves house sits on the North Side, within walking distance of Acrisure Stadium — and it still has free on-site parking. On a rivalry weekend that combination is the whole trick: park once when you arrive, walk to the game, and walk home afterward while the lots are still crawling. Three bedrooms that each have their own private ensuite bathroom, beds for eight, and a private back deck with a BBQ grill for the pre-game. See Greeves for photos and dates.
Part of our Christmas in Pittsburgh guide.
Where to stay. Rivers & Steel City Homes offers full homes across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area — parking, a kitchen, and room for everyone who travelled in. 2,700+ guests since 2018; book direct and save 5–15% over Airbnb and VRBO. Lock in your dates at riversandsteel.com/search.
More to plan your trip: Things to Do in Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh Food Guide. Ready to visit? Find your stay »
