Grade my Pittsburgh experience

[slashsteel]

It's hard to believe...free. Upgrade was free too.

How did yinz manage that?

 

[Troglodyte]

That's why we always watch at a nearby bar or beer tent when we go to one of these. I never cared to be in that crowd watching players walk up like they're getting their diploma.

Wish I had bailed and hit a bar to watch it. Drinks would’ve been cheaper too.

 

[SteelerFan448]

How did yinz manage that?

Season ticket holders had the chance to get tickets for the pit. I figured my best chance was Saturday and requested 4, got 2. The backfill is just so it looks crowded for TV. Just lucked out to be in the right place at the right time.

 

[slashsteel]

Season ticket holders had the chance to get tickets for the pit. I figured my best chance was Saturday and requested 4, got 2. The backfill is just so it looks crowded for TV. Just lucked out to be in the right place at the right time.

Ohhhh so not totally free you pay season tickets which is like paying for an arm and a leg.

 

[steelhurt]

Glad a good time was had by those who attended.
My hometown did a spectacular job of hosting the draft. I was very proud that the city looked so magnificent watching from my home so I’ll toast to the Rooney’s and the city. Well done!
Lots of nostalgia seeing the US Steel Building now UPMC. I worked on 38 floor back in the 70’s and let me tell ya, it was cool experience.
Looking at the surrounding mountains specifically Mount Washington where I grew up was magical for me. Living in Houston for many decades now it was special for me to see my city all dressed up.

 

[Super Dave]

One thing I didn’t realize is that there is no draft coverage at the draft. No NFL network, No player highlights, no commentary, opinion or analysis. They announce the pick and that’s it. It’s like trying to follow the draft on your phone at a wedding reception. There’s a mediocre band playing, you’re with a bunch of people you don’t know, some are dancing and everyone is celebrating something they’re not sure is going to work out.

I can see where that would be a problem.

 

[slashsteel]

As far as fan interaction I am going to say it was an A grade. I am a talker here no different from in person. I have heavy opinions for better or worse but in general I interact well.

My one friend was like, “ you talk to everyone”.

That is the ex military part of me, in general soldiers/ex soldiers have the gift for gab.

So I will share a few of my interactions:

1. I am standing next to a group of Colts fans. One of the girls spots the fig newtons in my friends clear backpack (event rules just like stadium rules) . She is like oh I love figs. I said you want some? She says yeah. So I take them out and hand them to her and tell her to take what she wants. I then look at her and said oh yeah, thank you. She says for? I said for Pittman. They all start chiming in with enthusiasm with how much they liked him that we will love him etc. 4 or 5 of them all with nothing but good things to say. How they wish he could have been retained. We know when fans don’t like something about a player something will come to the surface. Something anything. We pretty much know what we are getting with the guy but to hear Colt fans show their passion for him? Yeah was nice to hear.

2. In line heading into the draft event close to the entrance. There was a group of Steelers and ravens fans interacting. They are talking Lamar. A heated discussion. I chime in I will keep it real with you, on top of his game -dangerous -but those wheels are coming off. Just not the same as he once was. They loved the interaction and they all are talking back and forth. The one raven fan spots my throwback Rodgers jersey and says to me. “You don’t even have a QB right now, you probably sowed his name onto your jersey at home” You had to be there but it was hilarious. So we bullshitted a little but a good interaction.

3. In line to see the Steelers SB trophies I spot this group of Steelers fans who their buddy is a Cleveland fan. I lean over and said oh you all are friends? And they shake their head yes. I was then like ohhhh you want to give him a taste what a SB trophy looks like I understand. They all bust out laughing.

So the atmosphere wasn’t nasty I want to say the majority of fans interacted well. I talked with a lot of fans as we discussed picks who they liked and hoped for etc. something you won’t get at home watching the boobtube.

Just a solid overall experience in regards to this topic.

 

[Tim Steelersfan]

Drinks would’ve been cheaper too.

The soy milk latte's were quite expensive, I hear.

@SteelerInLebanon reached out to you and offered to buy you a beer. You could have had the honor of meeting me, @Superman, @Confluence, @Southern Steeler, @ColdGinAgain if you'd responded.

We all knew you wouldn't.

 

[Tim Steelersfan]

As far as fan interaction I am going to say it was an A grade. I am a talker here no different from in person. I have heavy opinions for better or worse but in general I interact well.

My one friend was like, “ you talk to everyone”.

That is the ex military part of me, in general soldiers/ex soldiers have the gift for gab.

So I will share a few of my interactions:

1. I am standing next to a group of Colts fans. One of the girls spots the fig newtons in my friends clear backpack (event rules just like stadium rules) . She is like oh I love figs. I said you want some? She says yeah. So I take them out and hand them to her and tell her to take what she wants. I then look at her and said oh yeah, thank you. She says for? I said for Pittman. They all start chiming in with enthusiasm with how much they liked him that we will love him etc. 4 or 5 of them all with nothing but good things to say. How they wish he could have been retained. We know when fans don’t like something about a player something will come to the surface. Something anything. We pretty much know what we are getting with the guy but to hear Colt fans show their passion for him? Yeah was nice to hear.

2. In line heading into the draft event close to the entrance. There was a group of Steelers and ravens fans interacting. They are talking Lamar. A heated discussion. I chime in I will keep it real with you, on top of his game -dangerous -but those wheels are coming off. Just not the same as he once was. They loved the interaction and they all are talking back and forth. The one raven fan spots my throwback Rodgers jersey and says to me. “You don’t even have a QB right now, you probably sowed his name onto your jersey at home” You had to be there but it was hilarious. So we bullshitted a little but a good interaction.

3. In line to see the Steelers SB trophies I spot this group of Steelers fans who their buddy is a Cleveland fan. I lean over and said oh you all are friends? And they shake their head yes. I was then like ohhhh you want to give him a taste what a SB trophy looks like I understand. They all bust out laughing.

So the atmosphere wasn’t nasty I want to say the majority of fans interacted well. I talked with a lot of fans as we discussed picks who they liked and hoped for etc. something you won’t get at home watching the boobtube.

Just a solid overall experience in regards to this topic.

Awesome stories.

We had one. At Justin's Terrible Tailgate, waiting in line to meet Jack Sawyer. Cop comes over, said "The line ends here, he's been here and has to leave" pointing to the two people in front of us - meaning my son and I weren't gonna get to meet him. We're like "Oh No, really?"

The two people in front of us, a male/female couple were wearing Green Bay garb. They turned, looked at us and said "You two take our spot, we don't need to meet him like you all do." We said "Really??" They smiled, said absolutely and stepped out of line for us.

People are almost always good.

 

[Superman]

went to @Steelerfan81 tailgate and ran into the abysmal @ColdGinAgain - a presence I'd secretly hoped to never endure again in this lifetime. What an albatross!

then met @Tim Steelersfan and his sons. Met Maurkice Pouncey and Jack Sawyer there.
Headed over to the stadium and watched the first round there with @Southern Steeler and @ColdGinAgain

On the way, ColdGinAgain, one of Tim's sons and I ran into some dweeb wearing a "I Drake Maye" t-shirt.

I asked him if he lost a fantasy football bet. He looked down at his shirt, back at me and said "rude"

I noted in my head that he was a ***

Second day was down at The Point. Saw Kendall Simmons and Levon Kirkland talking about their glory days. Hung out there before going to the stadium and meeting up with @SteelerInLebanon. Which, unfortunately, turned into all of us meeting @Confluence after someone blurted the name "Coolie" out. Just the mere mention of that walking disaster brings people together in a Frankenstein-like hunt.

All in all, a solid time. Would have even been nice to meet @Troglodyte to see if we could put some political discourse behind us over a beer, but ******* gonna *****.

 

[Troglodyte]

The soy milk latte's were quite expensive, I hear.

@SteelerInLebanon reached out to you and offered to buy you a beer. You could have had the honor of meeting me, @Superman, @Confluence, @Southern Steeler, @ColdGinAgain if you'd responded.

We all knew you wouldn't.

I left for Watkins Glen NY Friday morning and was there through Sunday.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

went to @Steelerfan81 tailgate and ran into the abysmal @ColdGinAgain - a presence I'd secretly hoped to never endure again in this lifetime. What an albatross!

then met @Tim Steelersfan and his sons. Met Maurkice Pouncey and Jack Sawyer there.
Headed over to the stadium and watched the first round there with @Southern Steeler and @ColdGinAgain

On the way, ColdGinAgain, one of Tim's sons and I ran into some dweeb wearing a "I Drake Maye" t-shirt.

I asked him if he lost a fantasy football bet. He looked down at his shirt, back at me and said "rude"

I noted in my head that he was a ***

Second day was down at The Point. Saw Kendall Simmons and Levon Kirkland talking about their glory days. Hung out there before going to the stadium and meeting up with @SteelerInLebanon. Which, unfortunately, turned into all of us meeting @Confluence after someone blurted the name "Coolie" out. Just the mere mention of that walking disaster brings people together in a Frankenstein-like hunt.

All in all, a solid time. Would have even been nice to meet @Troglodyte to see if we could put some political discourse behind us over a beer, but ******* gonna *****.

I had a great time hanging with all the Steeler Nation crew! Wish I had been able to get in Thursday for the tailgate and see Justin. I am planning on being at the game in Tampa and hope to meet more of yinz there. My offer to Trog was genuine and expensive at $19.75 a beer.

Overall had a great time hanging with my little brother and the crew. More relaxed than the emotional rollercoaster of a game. Then enjoyed sitting in Home Run Harry's and watching the Pens and Pirates win. Everyone we talked to was friendly, the security was immense, but they were hospitable. The NFL had foot traffic patterns well thought out except having the Bridge from the Point to the Northside closed to all but NFL credentialed personnel sucked big time.