Pittsburgh: A Dream Destination for the Devoted Sports Buff

There are few cities that have produced as prolifically dominant sports teams—and as excessively devoted fans—as Pittsburgh. Home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, in this city there is a team (and associated Hall of Fame) for nearly every sports fanatic.

For those who love baseball, Pittsburgh is the site of a special kind of baseball tradition, that of reliving the Pirates’ 1960 World Series win against the New York Yankees, winning 10-9 in Game 7 in what has been described as “the best game ever.” Started in 1985 by the “Game 7 Gang,” every October 13th several hundred fans congregate on a preserved section of the old Forbes Field outfield wall and listen to Chuck Thompson’s NBC Radio broadcast as if experiencing “old-time” baseball in real time. On some notable years, members of the 1960s Pirates—including the Bill Mazeroski, whose series-winning homerun has granted him eternal hero status—appear among the fans.

It would be impossible for any football fan to overlook the City of Champions and home of the six-time Super Bowl Champions. Senator John Heinz History Center’s Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum allows visitors get an insider’s peek at many Steeler’s traditions and iconic moments, from the Immaculate Reception to Myron Cope’s Terrible Towel. Pittsburgh’s North Shore is also home to a great lineup of sports bars, serving craft beers and pub food in an atmosphere fit for fans. In the Strip District neighborhood, every conceivable kind of t-shirt, mug, and tutu is blazoned with the unmistakable logo of the successful franchise.

Five-time winners of the Stanley Cup, the Pittsburgh Penguins also call Pittsburgh home. The team plays at the state-of-the-art PPG Paints Arena, the first Gold-LEED Certified hockey arena in the NHL and a destination worthy of any sports tourist—with or without the opportunity to see a live game. In addition to its football paraphernalia, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum hosts an impressive exhibit of Penguins memorabilia. Or for a different kind of penguin viewing, visit the Pittsburgh Zoo, which is home to several real penguins named after Penguins hockey stars.