Staff Directory
Abrams, John
John Abrams
- Title:
- Associate Athletic Director, Acrisure Stadium Operations and Event Management
- Email:
John Abrams joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics in June of 1998 and is currently an Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Game Operations. He serves as the primary contact for all football operations at Heinz Field and is the primary game manager for men’s basketball at the Petersen Events Center. Abrams also serves as the athletic department’s liaison to many departments on campus and is a member of the athletic department’s Leadership Team.
Abrams has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the athlete department facilities for more than two decades. He was involved in football game day operations in the final two seasons at Pitt Stadium and the 2000 season at Three Rivers Stadium before assisting in relocating all athletic department staff to temporary offices and locker rooms and then into the new Duratz Athletic Complex for football and the Petersen Events Center for basketball and administrative staff.
Abrams assisted in the design and construction of the Duratz Athletic Complex (2001) and the Petersen Events Center (2002) and worked closely DLA architects on $2.5 million renovation of the Baierl Basketball Center at the Petersen Events Center (including new locker rooms, player’s lounge, and new graphics). In 2016, he helped guide a renovation of the Petersen Events Center that included replacing the original main arena floor, addition of LED boards, fiber wiring throughout the arena, court design and banner displays in the venue.
As the main point of contact for the University of Pittsburgh with Heinz Field for construction projects and all Pitt football game operations since the stadium opened in 2001, Abrams has established strong relationships with various support units (Pittsburgh City Police, ALCO Parking, ARAMARK, Landmark Security, Sports & Exhibition Authority, Pittsburgh Pirates, and PennDOT) surrounding Heinz Field game operations . He is also the athletic department liaison with ASM Global, Pitt Police, and Department of Parking and Transportation on day-to-day operations of the Petersen Events Center and for home men’s basketball games.
Abrams also developed a comprehensive gameday operations strategy that is standardized across all sports and helped formulate a three-phase plan to change the athletic department’s logo throughout all athletic facilities to coincide with the 2016 Pitt Script launch.
Abrams previously served as Director of Ticket operations and Athletic Contest Manager at the University at Albany. There, he was responsible for providing all services associated with ticketing of revenue events held in athletic department facilities. He also assisted with all aspects of home game management for the University’s athletic programs. In addition, Abrams assisted with the marketing and promotions of the New York Giants Summer Training Camp, which made its home at Albany.
Abrams earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock University. While an undergraduate, he worked in the sports information office as a work-study student and was a member of the men’s tennis team. While earning his Master’s Degree he served as a graduate assistant to the Athletic Director and assisted in all aspects related to operating an athletic department.
A native of Hastings, Pa., Abrams resides in the North Hills.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
Football – The final game at Pitt Stadium versus Notre Dame in 1999.
Men’s Basketball – 2003 Big East Tournament Champions at Madison Square Garden.
What is your favorite thing to do in the city of Pittsburgh?
Going to Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates games with friends.
What is your favorite aspect of working in Pitt’s athletic department?
My job allows me to interact with all of our athletic coaches and staff along with many departments outside of athletics. I really enjoy the many friends I have made from working at Pitt over the years.
Hobbies outside of work?
I love to keep active and participate in several athletically related activities (ie, softball, golf, hockey, skiing, …)
Abrams has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the athlete department facilities for more than two decades. He was involved in football game day operations in the final two seasons at Pitt Stadium and the 2000 season at Three Rivers Stadium before assisting in relocating all athletic department staff to temporary offices and locker rooms and then into the new Duratz Athletic Complex for football and the Petersen Events Center for basketball and administrative staff.
Abrams assisted in the design and construction of the Duratz Athletic Complex (2001) and the Petersen Events Center (2002) and worked closely DLA architects on $2.5 million renovation of the Baierl Basketball Center at the Petersen Events Center (including new locker rooms, player’s lounge, and new graphics). In 2016, he helped guide a renovation of the Petersen Events Center that included replacing the original main arena floor, addition of LED boards, fiber wiring throughout the arena, court design and banner displays in the venue.
As the main point of contact for the University of Pittsburgh with Heinz Field for construction projects and all Pitt football game operations since the stadium opened in 2001, Abrams has established strong relationships with various support units (Pittsburgh City Police, ALCO Parking, ARAMARK, Landmark Security, Sports & Exhibition Authority, Pittsburgh Pirates, and PennDOT) surrounding Heinz Field game operations . He is also the athletic department liaison with ASM Global, Pitt Police, and Department of Parking and Transportation on day-to-day operations of the Petersen Events Center and for home men’s basketball games.
Abrams also developed a comprehensive gameday operations strategy that is standardized across all sports and helped formulate a three-phase plan to change the athletic department’s logo throughout all athletic facilities to coincide with the 2016 Pitt Script launch.
Abrams previously served as Director of Ticket operations and Athletic Contest Manager at the University at Albany. There, he was responsible for providing all services associated with ticketing of revenue events held in athletic department facilities. He also assisted with all aspects of home game management for the University’s athletic programs. In addition, Abrams assisted with the marketing and promotions of the New York Giants Summer Training Camp, which made its home at Albany.
Abrams earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock University. While an undergraduate, he worked in the sports information office as a work-study student and was a member of the men’s tennis team. While earning his Master’s Degree he served as a graduate assistant to the Athletic Director and assisted in all aspects related to operating an athletic department.
A native of Hastings, Pa., Abrams resides in the North Hills.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
Football – The final game at Pitt Stadium versus Notre Dame in 1999.
Men’s Basketball – 2003 Big East Tournament Champions at Madison Square Garden.
What is your favorite thing to do in the city of Pittsburgh?
Going to Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates games with friends.
What is your favorite aspect of working in Pitt’s athletic department?
My job allows me to interact with all of our athletic coaches and staff along with many departments outside of athletics. I really enjoy the many friends I have made from working at Pitt over the years.
Hobbies outside of work?
I love to keep active and participate in several athletically related activities (ie, softball, golf, hockey, skiing, …)
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