A surprise guest showed up early for Morgan Wallen's Pittsburgh stop when a massive honeybee swarm settled onto stage scaffolding at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday. An estimated 4 to 5 pounds of bees, roughly 12,000 to 15,000 insects, were safely removed from the structure in under two hours. Local beekeepers boxed the cluster for rehousing, and stadium crews quickly got back to work, keeping preparations on track for Wallen's back-to-back concerts this Friday and Saturday.
Beekeeper crews remove cluster from stage scaffolding
The Fine Family Apiary of Monongahela was called in to deal with the high-altitude squatters. The beekeepers collected the swarm into a "nuc box" before transferring the bees into full-size equipment. Owner Al Fine estimated the mass at about 4 to 5 pounds and put the headcount at roughly 12,000 to 15,000 bees, adding that the entire operation wrapped in less than two hours, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
Shows remain on the schedule
Once the swarm was cleared, stadium workers resumed stage construction and load-in. Acrisure Stadium's event calendar still lists Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem tour for Friday and Saturday, and tickets for both nights remain active.
Why swarms form and how they're handled
Swarming is a normal part of honeybee reproduction in which the queen and a portion of the workers abandon their old hive and form a temporary cluster while scout bees search for a new home. Extension guidance notes that swarms are usually docile and can remain bunched up for hours or even days, which is why trained beekeepers, not pesticide sprays, are the preferred responders. See Extension for procedures professionals follow when collecting a swarm.
Local apiarists protect pollinators and the show
Local apiarists often collect swarms at no charge and move them into managed hives, preserving valuable pollinators while avoiding chemical treatments. Iowa State Extension advises people to steer clear of clustered bees and call a beekeeper rather than attempt a do-it-yourself removal, which helps explain why stadium staff turned to an apiary for help. Iowa State Extension offers additional guidance on safe swarm handling.
