Looking for some info from any fans who made the Pitt road trip back in the Big East days. Would you recommend it? Ideally, I would like to road trip to a college town as opposed to a big city, but NC State, Wake, and FSU are just too far and I have zero desire to go to Lexington. I think they play all of their home games in the Steelers' stadium now, correct?
Pittsburgh Road Trip?
- Thread starter Hold Me Back_rivals
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I went twice. In 2006 my son and I drove up the day of the game and came back right after the game. We live in Cincinnati so the trip is shorter than for those travelling from Louisville. In 08 my wife and I went up the night before and drove back after the game. In 08 we stayed at a Marriott downtown and I went for a run in the morning out along the rivers. It was interesting running through a farmers market they have east of downtown.
Pittsburgh is a pro football first, second and third town. Pitt is a distant afterthought, even worse than it is for UC in Cincinnati. Pitt plays in the pro stadium and doesn't fill up half the stadium so there is no real college atmosphere. If the game was in September or October I would go but in late November it will be cold and windy and miserable in that stadium. I still remember freezing my butt off in the endzone in 08 watching Kragthorpe get outcoached by Wanstadt (not an easy task). I'll pass this year and probably take a trip to Winston-Salem instead.
Pittsburgh is a pro football first, second and third town. Pitt is a distant afterthought, even worse than it is for UC in Cincinnati. Pitt plays in the pro stadium and doesn't fill up half the stadium so there is no real college atmosphere. If the game was in September or October I would go but in late November it will be cold and windy and miserable in that stadium. I still remember freezing my butt off in the endzone in 08 watching Kragthorpe get outcoached by Wanstadt (not an easy task). I'll pass this year and probably take a trip to Winston-Salem instead.
Thanks for the info fredburg. The weather in Pittsburgh in November is certainly one of the major reasons to stay home and watch it on TV.
Don't let anything hold you back yet. Tickets will be available late as Pitt doesn't draw big for football do you don't need to commit early. Also you can likely get a nice downtown hotel using Priceline or Hotwire the week of the game if the weather looks ok.
My daughter goes to Pitt and their weather is often very similar to what we get in Louisville. We have found Pittsburgh to be a fun city to visit with many nice restaurant options.
My daughter goes to Pitt and their weather is often very similar to what we get in Louisville. We have found Pittsburgh to be a fun city to visit with many nice restaurant options.
I'll be making the trip once again. My wife's family is from Pittsburgh so we kill 2 birds with 1 stone. She see's her aunts, uncles, and cousin's and I see my Cards play a road game!!! With free room and board!!! LOL it is a pro 1st town, but a few still live their college sports. Their fans are mostly like other pro fan bases with a college in town.
Actually I made every game up there. Pretty easy drive. Yes, Pitt plays at Heinz Field. Be prepared for a pat down search as you enter. Nice area around the stadium water front; clubs, restaurants and hotels all in walking distance. Might even catch a Steeler weekend and make it a doubleheader. I recommend buying tickets from Pitt because the allocated visitor seats are pretty bad. Pitt fans are fine.
Peace
Peace
There are tons of places to eat!! I can't tell you names or even how to get there, that's when I let her uncle take the wheel and steer us to the best eats and watering holes.
In the way up and back we always ride thru Columbus Ohio and stop at Schmidt's Sausage Haus. Best German food you'll find!!!
In the way up and back we always ride thru Columbus Ohio and stop at Schmidt's Sausage Haus. Best German food you'll find!!!
I live close to Pittsburgh so I go to every Louisville/Reds/Bengals game there that I can. The atmosphere at Heinz is less than intense. The fans are friendly and fine, you can get great seats very cheap close to the game on stubhub (I had 5th row behind the Cardinals for like $25 last time when Teddy led them to a beat down of Pitt). There was a Pitt "Bro" who kept yelling at our male cheerleaders ("Wheeeew, do that flip again boy!" etc) which was really obnoxious. Other than that, fine.
Eat at the Primanti Brothers on Smallman (the original). It's totally a dive but man it's good. Get the "Pittsburgher" and yes you want slaw on it, just trust me on this.
Mount Washington is across the Monongalia River from downtown and it overlooks the city. Gorgeous. Great restaurants if you're into the "young professionals going out" scene.
Check out Point Park as well. Beautiful.
There's much much more but those are a few musts (especially Primantis, just to check off your list). As much as I hate their teams, I can't say I don't like Pittsburgh as a city. It's great.
I have worked for Pittsburgh based companies for almost thirty years so I go there all the time. I went to one game during the Schnelly era when they had an on campus stadium and I went the last time. Pitt fans are quite tolerant although some of the students get a bit crazy. You can score great cheap seats from Stubhub. What I thought was funny at the last game is by far the most engaged the crowd got was during the singing of "Sweet Caroline". They actually acted like they could give a crap during the rest of the game but during that song the place went nuts with a 30,000 fans sing along.
It is an easy road trip and there are plenty of great resturants and hotels downtown. As long as the game doesn't overlap with a home Steelers game weekend you should be able to get a decent hotel room for a good price. I highly recommend the trip. That is most likely the one I will make next year besides the pUKe game.
It is an easy road trip and there are plenty of great resturants and hotels downtown. As long as the game doesn't overlap with a home Steelers game weekend you should be able to get a decent hotel room for a good price. I highly recommend the trip. That is most likely the one I will make next year besides the pUKe game.
I went in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Had a great time each time I was there. Best is when you can go to the game in October - that view of the three rivers and the leaves changing colors is just beautiful. It's still pretty in November, but not quite as good or comfortable. Should be a great game - I would highly recommend it to anyone.
I have found the best parking to be in the downtown parking garages just south of the Allegheny river, very close to where the three rivers meet. Just walk across the bridge, turn left and walk into Heinz Field.
I have found the best parking to be in the downtown parking garages just south of the Allegheny river, very close to where the three rivers meet. Just walk across the bridge, turn left and walk into Heinz Field.
Very easy to stay downtown and ride the subway to Heinz field. Primanti bros restaurant was disappointing. Great trip. Inexpensive.