Walking over the Clemente Bridge on a crisp autumn day with Heinz in eye sight is a sight to behold. The boats on the river are all steaming towards the docks at Heinz. Once in the parking lot it is a sea of Black and Gold complete with Rock N Roll, tailgating and food grilling in the parking lot. School buses and Winnebago’s painted black and gold are everywhere. Everyone has a Steeler jersey with their favorite players number. Many are current but many are HOF Steelers of yesteryear. Everyone in the parking lots are your friends. It is easy to find a beer or some lunch and even the stoners are willing to share. Get a picture next to the Art Rooney statue for posterity.

Once inside Heinz there are stages with rock bands playing and fans mulling about everywhere. The food selection is all Pittsburgh from the Benkovitz fish sandwich to the world famous Primanti sandwich with Pastrami, egg. coleslaw and fries all piled sky high in between 2 pieces of sour dough. The Steelers walk of fame complete with lockers filled with artifacts will give you chills.

Once in your seat the view of the green grass and the rivers and city beyond is breathtaking. As the music blares and the starters are announced the crowd noise is deafening. Terrible towels swirl like the wind farms in Palm Springs. Unlike going to a game in AZ or SF it is near impossible to find an opponent’s shirt in the crowd. All of Pittsburgh keeps their tickets. You can count the Browns or Bengals shirts on one hand throughout the 65,000 in attendance. If the Steelers win the party continues in the lots into the night and all is well with the world. The most productive week in Pittsburgh is the week the Steelers get a W.

Come playoff time it is even more crazy. Buildings, windows and homes are decorated in black and gold. Car flags are everywhere. It is all the talk in town.
I make the pilgrimage from Cali to Mecca at least once a year. It is a must for any Steelers fan. You can get to Pittsburgh via Southwest now so it’s not too pricey. A game ticket can be had for $300 or so on stub hub, less around game time by neighboring PNC Park. It will be a day to remember forever. While in Pittsburgh don’t forget to do the Heinz Pittsburgh Heritage Museum (great exhibit on Pittsburgh sports in the 70’s) and grab a cut of Pittsburgh’s finest Pizza and a steak hoagie from Guiseppe at Aiello’s Pizza in Squirrel Hill. Tell him 50 sent you.

i think that’s what i always envisioned it to be. thanks.

it’s norcal ;)

but for real, what part? let’s make a trip out to the burgh someday

so i chose NoCal instead. if you’re from cali then you know who “norcal guy” is…he’s the guy with the extra-medium NorCal shirt (or Affliction or Ed Hardy) who wears his hat crooked with the bill curved up, has the stereotypical d-bag tattoos (like the nautical stars on his elbows, even though he was never in the Navy), and he walks around like he owns the place and everyone should “watch themselves” or he might kick someone’s ass. Yeah, we get a lot of those guys out here in Sacramento, so I do what I can to not associate myself with those guys. If you’re still not following me, take a look at the link below. This guy sums it up pretty well.

D-Bag #1