In Hostile Territory: Wearing the Black & Gold outside of Pittsburgh

Interesting read over at BTSC.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016/7/14/12069386/in-hostile-territory-wearing-the-steelers-black-and-gold-anywhere-but-in-pittsburgh

Curious to hear about other displaced fans' experiences in hostile territory to generate some discussion.

My personal story:

In 2011 my wife and I attended a Steelers game at Arrowhead. November 27th, 2011 to be exact. I didn't know what to expect. I had heard good things about Chiefs fans, and I had heard some questionable things about Chiefs fans and how they treat opposing fans coming into their home stadium. This was my first time seeing the Steelers in person. So I was both excited, and also somewhat nervous. When we finally got to KC and parked outside of Arrowhead we were immediately subjected to some good hearted ribbing from tailgating Chiefs fans. Comments like "Go back home", "You're not welcome here"... that kind of thing. All of these were followed with chuckling and smiles so I didn't take any of it seriously.

When we sat in the stadium it was literally a sea of Steelers fans. The Chiefs, ironically coached by Todd Haley at the time, and Quarterbacked by Tyler Palko, were not a good football team by any stretch of the imagination. My expectations were a somewhat close game through three quarters, and I thought the Steelers would pull away easily. Instead I was treated to a game that was really about as much fun to watch as watching paint dry. It was a completely defensive affair. The Steelers won 13-9 in the end, scoring all 13 of their points in the 2nd Quarter. The Chiefs defense was stingy, but they couldn't overcome Tyler Palko tossing 3 boneheaded interceptions to our defense. So it wasn't the game I had hoped to watch (a Steelers blowout), but the atmosphere of Sunday Night Football was absolutely electric to me, and I still had an awesome time.

After the game was over though, that's when things went south as far as the Chiefs fans and their attitudes. That's when the butthurt flowed forth in the form of a Chiefs fan (sitting on the visitor side, a few rows down from us), walking up the stairs and screaming at us that we all "fucking" sucked, and the Steelers weren't going to win the Super Bowl. I exchanged some "words" with that upstanding gentleman, and advised him that while we might not win the Super Bowl, we still came into your house and won the game. Other Steelers fans gave this guy and earful as well, but thankfully everything stayed verbal, and nothing got physical. I just never have understood why you'd have so much animosity when you knew your team wasn't very good going in.

The best feeling in the world though, walking out in a huge group of Steelers fans chanting "HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!" The remaining Chiefs fans wanted nothing to do with that and I didn't hear a word from them the rest of the way out of the stadium.

My favorite away experience was going to opening-day at Raymond James Stadium to watch the Ravens pummel the Bucs. It was the first game for Steve McNair as a Raven, and Haloti Ngata's first game ever. The final score was 28-0 and Chris Simms looked abysmal (which I enjoyed because fuck Phil Simms).

Anywho, I was sitting in the players' family section, which were nosebleed seats. Luckily, there were tons of other Ravens fans in this little area. Several rows in front of us were a large group of Bucs fans. As the game wore on, one red-headed fan was getting more drunk and angry. He kept turning around to yell at us. At one point, he ripped off his shirt to reveal a body covered in red, bushy hair. That's when the chanting started.

"Sasquatch! Sasquatch! Sasquatch!" came from our section until Squatch turned around and heaved his beer in our direction. Immediately, a return volley was served which completely drenched him and the surround fans. Security was dispatched pretty quickly, and after speaking to the parties involved, Sasquatch was escorted from the stadium.

Everyone else was pretty nice.


I've also mentioned before that the absolute nicest fans are Packers' fans at Lambeau. We got lots of, "As long as you aren't Bears fans" from those people.

Beside Heinz field I've been to Paul Brown and got pelted with D-cell batteries on our way to the parking lot after the game,and we lost to KITNA!!!

Tampa stadium was cool. I saw 2 Steeler games there,Bears, (Payton) Lions (B.Sanders) Giants (LT was on the sideline on IR.

I saw tons of USFL games when Jim Kelly,Steve Young,Doug Williams,and several more NFL players weree playing in that league.

Every game I've ever been to I had at least a Steeler Jersey on and other than in Bungville never had an issue.

I'm heading to the preseason game in New Orleans.. I will report back after that. :)

solardave wrote:

Beside Heinz field I've been to Paul Brown and got pelted with D-cell batteries on our way to the parking lot after the game,and we lost to KITNA!!!

Tampa stadium was cool. I saw 2 Steeler games there,Bears, (Payton) Lions (B.Sanders) Giants (LT was on the sideline on IR.

I saw tons of USFL games when Jim Kelly,Steve Young,Doug Williams,and several more NFL players weree playing in that league.

Every game I've ever been to I had at least a Steeler Jersey on and other than in Bungville never had an issue.

Where do people get D-Cell batteries to throw? Do they just carry those around? Jesus...  

JonM229 wrote:

My favorite away experience was going to opening-day at Raymond James Stadium to watch the Ravens pummel the Bucs.  It was the first game for Steve McNair as a Raven, and Haloti Ngata's first game ever.  The final score was 28-0 and Chris Simms looked abysmal (which I enjoyed because fuck Phil Simms).

Anywho, I was sitting in the players' family section, which were nosebleed seats.  Luckily, there were tons of other Ravens fans in this little area.  Several rows in front of us were a large group of Bucs fans.  As the game wore on, one red-headed fan was getting more drunk and angry.  He kept turning around to yell at us.  At one point, he ripped off his shirt to reveal a body covered in red, bushy hair.  That's when the chanting started.

"Sasquatch!  Sasquatch! Sasquatch!" came from our section until Squatch turned around and heaved his beer in our direction.  Immediately, a return volley was served which completely drenched him and the surround fans.  Security was dispatched pretty quickly, and after speaking to the parties involved, Sasquatch was escorted from the stadium.

Everyone else was pretty nice.


I've also mentioned before that the absolute nicest fans are Packers' fans at Lambeau.  We got lots of, "As long as you aren't Bears fans" from those people.

Being in Iowa I know a lot of Packers fans. Generally they're pretty cool. Usually my discussions with them over football turn into how similar our franchises are. Both franchises are kind of old school, and build their teams through the draft making minimal splashes in free agency. Both are title towns because of it. Even though I know all the Vikings, Bears, and Chiefs fans would disagree with me... I honestly think the Steelers and Packers have the two best fanbases in the NFL just based on how many fans there are, how die hard they are, and how well each respective fanbase travels.

Only experience I didn't much care for was a rowdy bunch of Packers fans eating at a McDonald's in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I walked in and went to the counter to order something and these guys saw me wearing my Steelers gear so they said something about the Super Bowl. I flipped them off and walked out. I don't get why you would talk trash, to a complete stranger, when it's the offseason, and that Super Bowl was years ago. Some people just get their rocks off being pricks I guess.

i went to Baltimore a couple of months ago. We stayed in a hotel in the down town area. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Before we went out I donned myself in as much Steeler gear as possible. As we started walking around I almost couldnt contain my excitement. I just knew I was going to be verbally assaulted because of my attire. To my disappointment I only got one "steelers suck" during the two days I was there. ...you win this one Baltimore

vasteeler wrote:

i went to Baltimore a couple of months ago. We stayed in a hotel in the down town area. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Before we went out I donned myself in as much Steeler gear as possible.   As we started walking around I almost couldnt contain my excitement. I just knew I was going to be verbally assaulted because of my attire. To my disappointment I only got one "steelers suck" during the two days I was there. ...you win this one Baltimore

Most of them were just inside, showering with their dogs.

I've said this somewere before, but I will repeat.

The worst I've seen has been Seattle. They are extremely obnoxious, aggressive fans who still haven't gotten over Super Bowl XL.

2nd worst was Buffalo. We stopped at a rest stop about 30 minutes out of Buffalo on Interstate 90 on a gameday Sunday. The amount of crap I took for just wearing a Steelers sweatshirt was incredible. Who harrasses random people at rest stops? It goes to show: Buffalo really is a toliet city, but thanks for beating the Jets last year!

"Where do people get D-Cell batteries to throw? Do they just carry those around? Jesus... "

Burfict,Jones and Peko passed them out before the game I guess.

vasteeler wrote:

i went to Baltimore a couple of months ago. We stayed in a hotel in the down town area. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Before we went out I donned myself in as much Steeler gear as possible.   As we started walking around I almost couldnt contain my excitement. I just knew I was going to be verbally assaulted because of my attire. To my disappointment I only got one "steelers suck" during the two days I was there. ...you win this one Baltimore

My only NFL experience other than the pro bowl here in hawaii, was to watch the Ravens play the Steelers at Heinz a few years ago. To my surprise there were a good amount of Ravens fans walking around and everyone was nice to them. I expected to hear some trash talking, but it seemed like Ravens and Steeler fans were friendly and getting along. There wasn't any heckling in my area of the Stadium either.

I expected to hear a lot of anti-Ravens smack talk but I didn't hear much at all. A ravens fan wearing a flacco jersey even agreed to do the polamalu tomahawk chop strip sack pose with me for a pic lol (i believe thats what ended the ravens season the year before that too), but he was a good sport about it. I'd assume most other stadiums are the same or Steeler fans are just classy like that

Lokki wrote:

vasteeler wrote:

i went to Baltimore a couple of months ago. We stayed in a hotel in the down town area. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Before we went out I donned myself in as much Steeler gear as possible.   As we started walking around I almost couldnt contain my excitement. I just knew I was going to be verbally assaulted because of my attire. To my disappointment I only got one "steelers suck" during the two days I was there. ...you win this one Baltimore

Most of them were just inside, showering with their dogs.

Fire Arians wrote:

vasteeler wrote:

i went to Baltimore a couple of months ago. We stayed in a hotel in the down town area. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Before we went out I donned myself in as much Steeler gear as possible.   As we started walking around I almost couldnt contain my excitement. I just knew I was going to be verbally assaulted because of my attire. To my disappointment I only got one "steelers suck" during the two days I was there. ...you win this one Baltimore

My only NFL experience other than the pro bowl here in hawaii, was to watch the Ravens play the Steelers at Heinz a few years ago. To my surprise there were a good amount of Ravens fans walking around and everyone was nice to them. I expected to hear some trash talking, but it seemed like Ravens and Steeler fans were friendly and getting along. There wasn't any heckling in my area of the Stadium either.

I expected to hear a lot of anti-Ravens smack talk but I didn't hear much at all. A ravens fan wearing a flacco jersey even agreed to do the polamalu tomahawk chop strip sack pose with me for a pic lol (i believe thats what ended the ravens season the year before that too), but he was a good sport about it. I'd assume most other stadiums are the same or Steeler fans are just classy like that

Honestly the Ravens are a rival, and one that plays a physical brand of football similar to our own. I think there's a modicum of respect between our two fanbases because of that fact. The Bengals call themselves our rivals, but they're just dirtbags that play a dirty brand of football. We hate them, and they hate us. There is no real respect there.