I think we're going to be embarrassed Sunday night

[steelblood]

There are socioeconomic changes occurring in the Burgh that are changing the constitution of fans that go to the game.

Since the mills closed in the 70's and 80's the city had been fairly depressed. For many people the only thing that kept our city positive through this depression was our blue collar heritage and championship history. Even during the 80's when the Steelers were playing poorly and the weather was atrocious many Pittsburghers preferred watching sub-par Steelers teams than facing the realities on the homefront.

I would say beginning in the mid 2000s Pittsburgh became competitive in attracting high paying tech jobs to the region and many of those people who took those jobs were boomerang Pittsburghers moving back home. On average, these workers have higher incomes than Pittsburghers who stayed and therefore drive the pricing for sporting events. Also, on average these people are not as connected to the blue collar heritage that Pittsburgh is synonomys for. They have no problem skipping a Steelers game if it really doesn't mean anything and the weather is not great.

The game has been yupified. The play on the field is softer and so are the fans. It's a reality that I have mixed feelings about because I grew up in the burgh and would like to return someday with a high paying job. First thing I would do is get some season tickets. Personally, I would give the tickets to my family if I could not make it to a game. No way would I sell tickets blindly. That's something that B-more fans do..lol! We have to realize that we on this board represent the top 1% of Steelers fans. Good, Bad, we will always be here posting away on these boards. It's just our thing.

I don't disagree. But, it was a lot easier to give them away when you didn't have to mortgage your house to buy them.

[Starlifter]

I also agree about the assessment of the current state of fans and the yuppi'ism. My seats are in the club level and I'm surrounded by business putz that use their seats as advertising with clients and who are more concerned about a 9 dollar weak a$$ drink. but what are ya gonna do? the steelers keep raising ticket prices.

one of the funnier aspects of Heinz is that when the steelers score, they award a section with a free hot dog. it's ALWAYS section 5 hundred something. Never down low or in the club. what's funny to me is those that sit at the top of the stadium aren't in those seats because there were plenty to choose from and that's all they could afford (and thus need a free hot dog) - it's simply all that was AVAILABLE.

but I digress. I miss the days of 3 rivers, cheap tickets, fanatical steel workers and football where you were allowed to hit your opponent.