Growing up as a Steelers fan on the West Coast, Pittsburgh was always out of reach.
I was the only fan in my family; growing up, I made it to the East Coast twice for vacations, but never visited the Steel City. Instead, I watched Steelers games on TV and read about how electric it was in-person the day after.
That finally changed when my dad surprised me with tickets to the Steelers’ 2022 home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a gift after I graduated high school. A few months later on a sunny, mid-October Pennsylvania weekend, my dad and I touched down in the city I had seen hundreds of times, but never met.
Pittsburgh, coming from the airport, is a bit underwhelming at first. Outside of the famous Franco Harris “immaculate reception” wax figure by the departing escalator, Pittsburgh International Airport and the surrounding area is just fine, but not an immediately obvious tourist destination.
But that makes downtown even better – you never see it coming.
My dad splurged a bit on tickets for the game, and Newton’s Third Law meant we had to stay at a ratty hotel where I’m surprised to this day we didn’t bring home bed bugs. But then, on an Uber ride to the famous Primanti Bros. sandwich shop in the city’s Strip District, we passed through the Fort Pitt tunnel that leads into downtown.
On the other side, out of nowhere, the postcard beauty of Pittsburgh was laid out in full.
Three rivers converge at what’s known as the Golden Triangle, which features the best of the Pittsburgh skyline, a vibrant green riverside park, and glimmering yellow bridges stretching across the water. Sports meccas such as PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium tower over the waterfront. As a Steelers fan who grew up in a town of 3,000 people, this was heaven.
“The charming location of Pittsburgh on the three rivers just seems like something out of a superhero story to me,” actor Nick Offerman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2017 ahead of a stand-up show. The actor of "Parks and Recreation" fame has been all over the U.S. but considers Pittsburgh among the "best-looking" cities in America. “I’m crazy about it.”
I haven't globetrotted as much as Offerman, but wholeheartedly agree.
That night, my dad and I feasted at Primantis’ original 1933 location, chowing down on the shop’s signature “Pitts-burger,” which comes with fries and coleslaw – not on the side, but in the sandwich, of course.
It was a busy joint; the Steelers played the next day, and the city's NHL team, the Penguins, were on TV. The restaurant was full of chatter and black-and-gold jerseys. Primantis was as packed as one of their sandwiches. I ate my Pitts-burger, drank my root beer, and took it all in.
Pittsburgh is a town that loves its sports teams. Every Uber driver we had that weekend gave us some thoughts about the Steelers, Penguins or Pirates – even the guy who gave me unsolicited marriage advice and his entire life story. It’s a black-and-gold obsessed town, and every major sports team there proudly wears that same color combination, further adding to a sense of unity and history.
While football is the sport I care most about, the Pirates’ home field of PNC Park is on my bucket list for the next time I make it to Pittsburgh. As much as locals love to hate their struggling baseball franchise, they adore the park, which is consistently ranked as one of the top-five prettiest MLB venues by just about every publication.
“(PNC Park) perfected the retro-classic ballpark style,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Will Laws in May. “Even the nosebleed seats don’t feel too far from the action.”
The stadium, built in 2001, has a gorgeous outlook over downtown, the Allegheny River, and the Roberto Clemente Bridge – essentially, that same snapshot from Fort Pitt but with America’s favorite pastime live in the foreground. Look at the view, not the scoreboard.
The Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington is another Pittsburgh staple I couldn’t get to in my two days in the city. You know it’s a good introduction to the area when the Steelers send every rookie draft pick there once they arrive in the city.
The cherry-red funiculars cost $3.50 for a round trip, offer a stunning view of the city, and provide a ride to restaurants and shops at the top. Every Pittsburgh local I’ve talked to says it’s a must. And it takes a lot for Pittsburghers – the same people who take pride in inventing the word “jagoff” – to agree on anything.
Then there was the football game. The Steelers’ home field of Acrisure Stadium is far from the NFL’s oldest, and it doesn’t have the ultra-modern amenities of the league’s newest, but it’s a fine venue and the riverside location is stellar. The six Vince Lombardi Trophies displayed on the inside make it clear you’re in the presence of football royalty.
There’s also an in-stadium Primanti Bros. location.
NFL football is always a treat in-person, too. In this case, Tom Brady was on the opposing sideline. I witnessed the Steelers’ legendary fourth-quarter hype song, “Renegade” by Styx, where you’ll never see a larger group of people who know all the lyrics and are swirling Terrible Towels like they’re trying to generate lift. The game day energy is special.
I watched Kenny Pickett’s first career touchdown pass live in that game – a moment I thought would be more special than it seems today. But I still saw something that most NFL fans never will: Brady, the GOAT himself, losing after a tight fourth quarter battle.
The Steelers defeated the Buccaneers 20-18 in a game that will probably be a trivia answer in 10 years.
I went to Pittsburgh for a Steelers game, and while it lived up to my expectations, it was the city I remember the most. If you’re a fan of a sports franchise, you won’t get the full picture of that team until you understand the city it represents and the people who support it, live it, and drive by the stadium every day.
I hope I get the chance to drive by it again in the future.
At a glance:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
About:
Pittsburgh is located in western Pennsylvania in Allegheny County. The Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers converge in downtown.
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania with a population of 303,572 as of 2025. The city is known for its blue-collar history, bridges, sports teams, and a vibrant food and arts scene.
What to do:
- Acrisure Stadium visitor’s guide
- Pittsburgh travel guide
- PNC Park tours
- Duquesne Incline
- Primanti Bros.
- Downtown Pittsburgh
- “Immaculate reception” statue
- Pittsburgh regions
Major Pittsburgh sports teams
Travel
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