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As one of the league’s most popular teams in America, it should come as no surprise to Pittsburgh Steelers fans to learn that this trend is also something of a global phenomenon when it comes to the NFL’s international appeal. With fans clubs across Europe, Asia and South America, Steeler Nation is quite literally everywhere and barring the U.S, perhaps nowhere more so than just across the southern border.
However, despite their overwhelming popularity in Mexico, the Steelers have never been selected to play in one of the regular season games held at the Azteca Stadium, only once ever having played in an exhibition there back in 2000. But for the generations of Mexican fans with Black and Gold blood running through their veins, there is at least an opportunity to connect with the team at their annual fan camps in Mexico City.
The Steelers were back in the city for their eight consecutive year over the weekend, hosted by a number of notable former and current players that included Terrell Edmunds and Bud Dupree as well as past Super Bowl winners such as Rocky Bleier, Donnie Shell, Charlie Batch and Max Starks.
Day 1️⃣ of #SteelersFootballCampMX2019 is underway❗️
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 22, 2019
Follow along ➡️ @acereros pic.twitter.com/8xy2k1PBiy
¡Buenos días México! Dia 2️⃣ #HereWeGo @rell_island6 | @CharlieBatch16 | @maxstarks78 pic.twitter.com/4MW8SoF9Mc
— Steelers en Español (@acereros) June 23, 2019
¡No pudimos haber pedido un mejor domingo en México!
— Steelers en Español (@acereros) June 24, 2019
Gracias a todos los que nos acompañaron pic.twitter.com/XgNiMqc5pN
Open to fans of all ages, the three-day experience included opportunities to meet with the players for autographs and pictures, and also take part in a series of drills and exercises run by the current and former players in attendance.
¡Estamos a dos días de nuestro Meet & Greet, te esperamos el viernes!
— Steelers en Español (@acereros) June 19, 2019
Todavía puedes obtener boletos aqui https://t.co/LAfKKLyRtF pic.twitter.com/hhcnx2oy7c
And while most of the action was all in good fun.
¡La estamos pasando increíble hasta ahora! #SteelersCampMx2019 pic.twitter.com/GiFxig2vh5
— Steelers en Español (@acereros) June 22, 2019
Day 1 of #SteelersFootballCampMX2019 was a HUGE success. It was great to see SteelersNation representing. Looking for to another amazing day tomorrow.
— Charlie Batch (@CharlieBatch16) June 22, 2019
@Steelersnationunite@steelers@acereros pic.twitter.com/98SiArK5BA
.@maxstarks78 teaching some great technique at our Football Camp in Mexico! #LetsPlayFootball pic.twitter.com/U5JTZPovJ3
— Steelers Youth FB (@SteelersYouthFB) June 22, 2019
Ella logró derribar a @Bud_Dupree y a @rell_island6 al mismo tiempo pic.twitter.com/QPg8WsJAPQ
— Steelers en Español (@acereros) June 23, 2019
The sweetest memories with the greatest team Steelers Football Camp 2019 Thanks for everything! Here We Go!!! @SteelersCampMX @acereros @ArturoCarlos pic.twitter.com/8BQhIzN2Cm
— Pamela (@PamVengenz) June 24, 2019
Here are some pictures from the last day of #SteelersFootballCampMX2019. The fans in Mexico clearly showed why the Steelers are the #1 followed team in the NFL. Thank you Mexico City for being such a gracious host. I cant wait to see you all this year at Heinz field. pic.twitter.com/nYvkux3rLx
— Charlie Batch (@CharlieBatch16) June 24, 2019
That did not stop Dupree and Edmunds from ramping up the intensity when some of the more mature fans were running the drills.
Bud and Edmunds! (Via Edmunds’ IG) #Steelers pic.twitter.com/ifIv6ZnjUt
— SteelVideos (@SteelBlitzburgh) June 23, 2019
Bud is raising hell at the Steelers fan camp in Mexico! (Via Bud’s IG) #Steelers pic.twitter.com/ywrVVHmOvz
— SteelVideos (@SteelBlitzburgh) June 24, 2019
Another angle of Bud and Edmunds running over a fan at the Steelers fan camp in Mexico. (Via Bud's IG) #Steelers pic.twitter.com/ccvsftTNm7
— SteelVideos (@SteelBlitzburgh) June 24, 2019
Edmunds may yet have some upside as a quarterback.
Por segundo día consecutivo en el #SteelersFootballCampMexico2019, #TerrellEdmunds @rell_island6 en la convivencia deportiva con los fans de los @acereros @steelers de todas las edades en @PlazaMundoE #México pic.twitter.com/1tangVdnx5
— Steelers Football Camp MX (@SteelersCampMX) June 23, 2019
And given the warm welcome the players received, there is a good chance they will all be volunteering to return next year.
Bienvenido! What a welcome I received in my room at the hotel Fiesta Americana in Mexico City as we kickoff the 8th annual Steeler Fan Fest and Football Camp for the Steeler fans in the area.@acereros @SteelersUnite #SteelersFootballCampMexico2019 pic.twitter.com/qow77224g9
— Rocky Bleier (@RockyBleier) June 22, 2019
Although Rocky might want to spend more time doing the meet and greets and less time doing the drills.
These fans gave me quite a work out!
— Rocky Bleier (@RockyBleier) June 24, 2019
・・・
No pudimos haber pedido un mejor domingo en @acereros pic.twitter.com/Ip7eNUUvM8