Tag Archives: Fireworks

A Football Town With a Soccer Problem

Despite three Stanley Cups championships and five World Series titles to its name, Pittsburgh is undeniably a football town. Every time Monday Night Football comes to town, Pittsburghers are treated to hearing ESPN’s crew praising our city’s blue-collar work ethic, as well as noting how that work ethic is reflected in our football team. They’re not wrong. The Steelers have a unique bond with their city that few other teams in the NFL, let alone in the whole of professional sports, can claim. For example, the Terrible Towel, originally a tool for supporting the Steelers, has become just as strongly associated with the city as a whole.

Surprisingly enough, this won’t wind up being a post about football, so much as it’ll be about fútbol. Considering Pittsburgh’s passion for the sports world (maybe “passion” is the wrong word to describe our relationship with the Pirates in the last twenty years, but bear with me), it surprises me that our own Pittsburgh Riverhounds don’t get more in the way of love from the ‘Burgh’s historically spirited fanbase.

Okay, fine. Maybe it’s not all that surprising. Most Americans—not just Pittsburghers—have had a tense relationship with the game of soccer since we gave up the game in grade school. (Admit it, you only played for the orange slices at halftime. I know I did). I get it. You want touchdowns and home runs. Even hockey goals are more exciting than soccer goals, partially because you know the names of the guys who are scoring them, and partially because the powers that be have made it impossible for hockey games to end in a tie. Ties are boring, and any game that offers the outcome of neither a win nor a loss must also be boring. Period. End of discussion.

Hold on a second. The Steel Army would like a word with you. On Sunday, I headed down to Station Square to see the Riverhounds square off against Antigua Barracuda FC. The Hounds trounced Antigua, by a score of 4-1, but the highlight for me was the passionate supporters group who gathered on the bleachers behind the goal line, and spent nearly the entire game shouting, chanting, singing, beating drums, waving flags, and generally stirring up a ruckus, the likes of which I don’t think I’ve ever seen on a sustained level at a professional sporting event. Sure, every once in a while someone will get a good chant going, (“Let’s Go Bucs, “Let’s Go Pens,” “Here We Go Steelers,” etc.) and I won’t deny that 65,000 people waving Terrible Towels in unison is a pretty exciting sight to see, but it always seems that, eventually, stadiums are awash in a “Too Cool to Care” attitude, and the fan participation dies down after about a minute and a half. What I witnessed on Sunday in Highmark Stadium (the capacity of which is around 4,000 bodies) was almost a full 90 minutes of unabashed engagement, from truly passionate fans. The Steel Army takes its cues from traditional English supporters, (no hooligans though, as far as I could tell, so feel free to bring the kids) and even though their numbers are significantly smaller, they make up for it by being very loud and very invested in the outcome of the game. I get the feeling that if you spent some time with the Army, you’d become just as invested. Even if you don’t see the appeal of soccer as a game, or if you don’t understand it completely, I’ve said it before: there’s something exciting about a group of people bonding over city pride, and the Army has city pride in droves.

One of the banners found in the Steel Army supporters section

One of the banners found in the Steel Army supporters section

If I still haven’t convinced you by way of my “passionate soccer hooligans” argument, (even though they really do seem like lovely people) at least do yourself a favor and go check out the stadium. Situated in Station Square, Highmark Stadium opens out onto the Monongahela River and offers a really awesome view of the Point that faces opposite Heinz Field and PNC Park on the Allegheny. The Hounds carry their ten game unbeaten streak (unfortunately, that does include ties) into a match against the Charlotte Eagles on the Fourth of July at 7:00 PM. Tickets start at $9.50. What better way to celebrate your country’s independence than with cheap semi-professional soccer? Then, toward the end of July, (July 19th, to be exact) Wigan Athletic comes to town. For those who are unfamiliar, Wigan Athletic is a club from across the pond in Merrie Olde England. They’re also the reigning FA Cup champions, which is kind of a big deal. Think March Madness multiplied by eleven or so. Every football club in England (all 758 of them) automatically qualifies, then they duke it out for the oldest association football championship in the world. So now the victorious Latics are bringing the FA Cup to Pittsburgh, and would probably be missing out if they weren’t given the whole Pittsburgh sports experience that one might receive at a Steelers, Pirates or Penguins game.

But if you really must avoid the association football, you can head down on July 3rd  at 6:30 PM for a free concert and a great view of the Three Rivers Regatta Fireworks show. At least you can be sure that the fireworks won’t end in a tie.

PGH Exeeding My Expectations Yet Again

What a week to be in Pittsburgh. Last Wednesday, I participated in Pittsburgh’s first Tweet Up, which was beyond awesome. Rarely do things exceed my expectations, but I have been in a state of awe since I stepped foot in Belle Notte on Wednesday evening. My colleagues and I experienced by far the best pizza ever in the strip and will be partaking again this Wednesday. Needless to say, I am a bit antsy just thinking about the dough that is the perfect balance of thick and crispy, thanks to cooking it right on the stone and the shredded, yes shredded pepperoni. The place exuded an air of your down-home pizza joint and I pictured myself frequenting it with family and friends, having long conversations and laughing over the delicious aroma.

Ok enough of this, it is making me hungry, and onto my next praise of Pittsburgh. The fireworks on Saturday night were a definite example of just how awesome Pittsburgh really is. It was exhilarating to see fellow burgh’rs atop Mt. Washington cheering together in celebration of the Iron City. As if delicious local pizza and large firework displays weren’t enough…

I was utterly impressed by a coffee shop just this morning. 21st Street Coffee in the strip made my day in many ways. I loved the combination of the hot mocha and cool whipped cream almost as much as the combination of my hot drink and the cool, crisp morning we experienced. The staff was friendly, even at 7 a.m. and the raspberry pecan muffin was a perfect accompaniment to my coffee. As I drove to the office I thought to myself, how could one city offer so many wonderful places and things to do… and it took me all of 2 seconds to answer myself simply, “Because its Pittsburgh, that’s why!”

Links Worth a Look – September 18th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

  • Raise a glass its time for Oktoberfest. – For nineteen years the Penn Brewery has brought Munich to Pittsburgh with our annual Oktoberfest celebration and this year will be no exception. Held the same weekends as its German counterpart, the Penn Brewery offers the most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in Pittsburgh.

    Friday and Saturday nights the party starts at 5:00 p.m. with live German entertainment, a delicious variety of German foods and our craft made, award winning beer highlighted by our annual Oktoberfest Bier.

  • FORTY UNDER FORTY – November 7, 2008 – Save the date – Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP will honor 40 people in Pittsburgh under the age of 40 who are doing great things in the city.
  • Should I Drink That? Brewcast » Blog Archive » Episode 44 – Steel City Big Pour 2008 – My friends from the best Podcast in town are back with a new episode from the Steel City Big Pour (and a snazzy new website)

    Join us for the second annual Steel City Big Pour which is once again the greatest beer fest in the land. Featured breweries are:
    Scott Smith from EastEnd Brewing
    Brandon from Rock Bottom
    Mike from Troegs Brewing Matt from Voodoo Brewing Jim from Erie Brewing
    Fred from Hoppin Frog
    Woody from Ale Street News
    Chris from Bocktown
    Drew from Pipers Pub
    Aaron from Stone Brewing

    We're still giving away FREE TICKETS to the Brewing UP A Cure beer festival! Check out the contest page for details!

  • IheartPGH.com » Blog Archive » PARK(ing) Day – Parking Spots become Parks for a day – Friday, September 19,2008 – check out this comment on this history of Parking in Pittsburgh.

Click here to see more links we like.