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==Criticism==
==Criticism==
Like other large and vocal fan bases, such as the [[Cleveland Browns]]' [[Dawg Pound]] or [[Yankees Universe|fans of]] the [[New York Yankees]], Steelers Nation has at times been presented in an unflattering light, especially by fans of other teams. They have occasionally been described in unflattering terms by sports journalists in other cities.<ref name="balitmoreexaminer090105">{{cite news | first = Tony | last = Giro | title = Why do we hate Steelers fans? Let me count the reasons | curly = y | url = http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/sports/011509giro.html | work = The Baltimore Examiner | location = Balitmore, Md. | date = 2009-01-15 | accessdate = 2009-01-31}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> For example, prior to [[Super Bowl XLIII]], the ''[[Phoenix New Times]]'' warned readers that Steelers fans were the "grubbiest, loudest, and nastiest fan base in all of sports — as well as one of the largest" and that as the only NFL fanbase in [[Appalachia]], they were "[[white trash]]" and "[[hillbillies]]."<ref name="phoenixnewtimes090127">{{cite news| first = Martin | last = Cizmar | title = Arizona Cardinals Fans, You'd Better Get Ferocious or Steelers Nation Will Eat You Alive | curly = y | url =http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-01-29/news/arizona-cardinals-fans-better-get-ferocious-or-the-steeler-nation-will-eat-them-alive/ | work = Phoenix New Times | publisher = | location = Phoenix, Arizona | date = 2009-07-27 | accessdate = 2009-02-04}}</ref> Steelers fans have also been singled out by newspapers in rival cities for inappropriate behavior during games<ref name="balitmoreexaminer090105" /><ref>{{cite news | first = Paul | last = Forrester | title = NFL Fan Value Experience: Pittsburgh Steelers | curly = y | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/29/fvi.steelers/ | work = SI.com | date = 2007-11-07 | accessdate = 2009-02-10}}</ref><ref name="postgazette941218">{{cite news | first = Ron | last = Cook | title = O'Donnell can't control critics or crazy bounces | curly = y | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | page = D1 | date = 1994-12-18}}</ref> — a common problem in the NFL.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = McCarthy | title = NFL unveils new code of conduct for its fans | curly = y | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-08-05-fan-code-of-conduct_N.htm | work = [[USA Today]] | location = McLean, Virginia. | date = 2008-08-06 | accessdate = 2009-02-10}}</ref>
Like other large and vocal fan bases, such as the [[Cleveland Browns]]' [[Dawg Pound]], Steelers Nation has at times been presented in an unflattering light, especially by fans of other teams. They have occasionally been described in unflattering terms by sports journalists in other cities.<ref name="balitmoreexaminer090105">{{cite news | first = Tony | last = Giro | title = Why do we hate Steelers fans? Let me count the reasons | curly = y | url = http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/sports/011509giro.html | work = The Baltimore Examiner | location = Balitmore, Md. | date = 2009-01-15 | accessdate = 2009-01-31}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> For example, prior to [[Super Bowl XLIII]], the ''[[Phoenix New Times]]'' warned readers that Steelers fans were the "grubbiest, loudest, and nastiest fan base in all of sports — as well as one of the largest" and that as the only NFL fanbase in [[Appalachia]], they were "[[white trash]]" and "[[hillbillies]]."<ref name="phoenixnewtimes090127">{{cite news| first = Martin | last = Cizmar | title = Arizona Cardinals Fans, You'd Better Get Ferocious or Steelers Nation Will Eat You Alive | curly = y | url =http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-01-29/news/arizona-cardinals-fans-better-get-ferocious-or-the-steeler-nation-will-eat-them-alive/ | work = Phoenix New Times | publisher = | location = Phoenix, Arizona | date = 2009-07-27 | accessdate = 2009-02-04}}</ref> Steelers fans have also been singled out by newspapers in rival cities for inappropriate behavior during games<ref name="balitmoreexaminer090105" /><ref>{{cite news | first = Paul | last = Forrester | title = NFL Fan Value Experience: Pittsburgh Steelers | curly = y | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/29/fvi.steelers/ | work = SI.com | date = 2007-11-07 | accessdate = 2009-02-10}}</ref><ref name="postgazette941218">{{cite news | first = Ron | last = Cook | title = O'Donnell can't control critics or crazy bounces | curly = y | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | page = D1 | date = 1994-12-18}}</ref> — a common problem in the NFL.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = McCarthy | title = NFL unveils new code of conduct for its fans | curly = y | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-08-05-fan-code-of-conduct_N.htm | work = [[USA Today]] | location = McLean, Virginia. | date = 2008-08-06 | accessdate = 2009-02-10}}</ref>


Anti–Steelers Nation sentiment has grown strong enough that in some cases, [[front office]]s for other teams have taken steps to keep Pittsburgh fans out of games in their cities.<ref name="tribreview060407">{{cite news | first = Joe | last = Bendel | title = Rooney: Opposing teams discriminate Steelers fans | curly = y | url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_441131.html | work = Pittsburgh Tribune Review | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | date = 2006-04-07}}</ref> Instead of being permitted to buy tickets to a [[Chargers]]-Steelers game in [[San Diego]], for instance, they were required to pay for tickets to two other games, as well.<ref>{{cite news | first = Joe | last = Bendel | title = Steelers are hot ticket in town | curly = y | url = http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ufANAAAAIBAJ&sjid=23ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4285,3985394 | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | page = D3 | date = 2005-10-06 | accessdate = 2009-02-19}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In other cases, teams refused to sell tickets to fans calling from Pittsburgh's 412 [[area code]], and they encouraged fans who were selling their own tickets to do the same.<ref name="tribreview060407" /> Steelers President [[Art Rooney II]] complained to the NFL about the situation, but his grievance was not well received.<ref name="tribreview060407" />
Anti–Steelers Nation sentiment has grown strong enough that in some cases, [[front office]]s for other teams have taken steps to keep Pittsburgh fans out of games in their cities.<ref name="tribreview060407">{{cite news | first = Joe | last = Bendel | title = Rooney: Opposing teams discriminate Steelers fans | curly = y | url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_441131.html | work = Pittsburgh Tribune Review | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | date = 2006-04-07}}</ref> Instead of being permitted to buy tickets to a [[Chargers]]-Steelers game in [[San Diego]], for instance, they were required to pay for tickets to two other games, as well.<ref>{{cite news | first = Joe | last = Bendel | title = Steelers are hot ticket in town | curly = y | url = http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ufANAAAAIBAJ&sjid=23ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4285,3985394 | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | page = D3 | date = 2005-10-06 | accessdate = 2009-02-19}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In other cases, teams refused to sell tickets to fans calling from Pittsburgh's 412 [[area code]], and they encouraged fans who were selling their own tickets to do the same.<ref name="tribreview060407" /> Steelers President [[Art Rooney II]] complained to the NFL about the situation, but his grievance was not well received.<ref name="tribreview060407" />

Revision as of 18:28, 4 February 2011

File:Pittsburgh Steelers fans 11 Sept 2005.jpg
Steelers fans during a 2005 game.

Steelers Nation is the unofficial name of the fan base of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, coined by NFL Films narrator John Facenda in "Blueprint for Victory," the team's 1975 highlights film. Steelers Country is often used for the Pittsburgh area where the fan base originates or for areas with a large Steelers fan base.

History

Early years

The Steelers have had a following in Western Pennsylvania since 1933. That year, Pennsylvania relaxed its blue laws allowing sporting events in the commonwealth on Sundays, paving the way for the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles to begin play for the 1933 NFL season. Previously, the state had teams in Pottsville and Frankford, but both had already folded, due to both the Great Depression and their inability to play on Sunday, when most NFL games took place.

Much like the league itself in the early years, the Steelers had to compete with baseball and college football teams in the city, making the team third in the hierarchy to the Pirates and the Pitt Panthers. Despite the team's early struggles, it had a small but loyal fan base in the city due to the popularity of American football at all levels, dating back to the 1800s, when Pittsburgh hosted the first wholly professional football game in 1895.

Rise of the Steelers

By the 1950s, the Steelers had gained some popularity in the city and were on par with Pitt, but they were still a distant second behind the Pirates in the city.

In the early 1970s, the Steelers began to rise in popularity. 1969 saw the hiring of head coach Chuck Noll and the drafting of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene. By 1972, the Steelers were a playoff contender and began a sellout streak in Three Rivers Stadium that carried over to Heinz Field and still stands to this day. The team is second to the Washington Redskins for the longest active consecutive sellout streak in league history.[1]

The team's four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s coincided with the a recession that struck the United States, and the city in particular, that would lead to the closure of several steel mills in the early 1980s. The team's success was credited with giving people in the city hope and leading to the increased fan base. Due to economic uncertainty in the area, many Steelers fans relocated to other areas but retained their identification with the Steelers as a reflection of their former hometown's steel industrial base.

During the lead up to Super Bowl XIII between the Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, Phil Musick contrasted the Dallas and Pittsburgh fans by saying that "Dallas is superfan Whistling Ray and a hat that sprays the unsuspecting with water; Pittsburgh is a guy in a gorilla suit who'll stove five of your ribs if you laugh at him."[2]

Player fan clubs

In the 1970s many fans organized fan clubs for their favorite players. Some of these fan clubs included Franco's Italian Army,[3] Frenchy's Foreign Legion,[4][5] Gerela's Gorillas,[6][7][8] Bradshaw's Brigade,[9] Lambert's Lunatics,[10][11][12] Dobre Shunka (Good Ham, for Jack Ham),[13] Rocky and the Flying Squirrels,[14] Shell's Bombers, and Russell's Raiders[15] among others.

Today

Steelers fans line the Boulevard of the Allies in downtown Pittsburgh for the Super Bowl XLIII victory parade in February 2009.

Since the 1970s, the Steelers have enjoyed a large fan base and have eclipsed the Pittsburgh Pirates as the most popular sports team in Pittsburgh. While the team's success gained it a large fan base nationally, many consider the collapse of the city's steel industry to have been a cause for the strong fan base in other cities, demonstrated when teams whose home turnout would otherwise require a local blackout on television end up selling out when hosting the Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals are perhaps the best example of this, as throughout the 1990s, the team usually only sold out home games when playing against the Steelers. Another instance of the team's large fan base was at Super Bowl XL, where an ESPN.com columnist suggested that Steelers fans outnumbered Seattle Seahawks fans more than 25 to 1.[16]

In November 2007, a study by Turnkey Sports found that the Steelers brand was the strongest in its local market of any team in the NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL.[17][18]

Another study found that the percentage of female fans in the Pittsburgh market was more than double the average.[19]

Comparison to other NFL fan bases

Attempts at quantifying the loyalty of Steelers Nation relative to other NFL fan bases have shown mixed results. A 2006 study by the American City Business Journals placed the team's fans 21st out of 32 teams in the league,[20] behind all three of its division rivals in the AFC North. The study found that although the team had been selling out games for years, some fans were not actually attending the games, and Pittsburgh's weekly turnout percentage for home games was 16th in the league.[21] That ranking was down seven slots from the publication's survey conducted in 1997, which ranked Steelers Nation 14th out of 30 teams, partly due to fans leaving nearly 10 percent of the seats in the stadium empty.[22]

Conversely, a 2008 study from Forbes.com ranked Pittsburgh fans 8th overall, citing amongst other things a long season-ticket waiting list.[23] A 2008 article for ESPN.com ranked Steelers fans as the best in the NFL, citing their "unbelievable" sellout streak of 299 consecutive games.[24][25]

There are a number of bars around the country that cater specifically to Steelers games. The density of the Steeler fan base is especially high in the South Bay of Los Angeles. There are two renowned bars in Hermosa Beach, Sharkey's and Shark's Cove, that transform into an all Steelers crowd during their games.

Criticism

Like other large and vocal fan bases, such as the Cleveland Browns' Dawg Pound, Steelers Nation has at times been presented in an unflattering light, especially by fans of other teams. They have occasionally been described in unflattering terms by sports journalists in other cities.[26] For example, prior to Super Bowl XLIII, the Phoenix New Times warned readers that Steelers fans were the "grubbiest, loudest, and nastiest fan base in all of sports — as well as one of the largest" and that as the only NFL fanbase in Appalachia, they were "white trash" and "hillbillies."[27] Steelers fans have also been singled out by newspapers in rival cities for inappropriate behavior during games[26][28][29] — a common problem in the NFL.[30]

Anti–Steelers Nation sentiment has grown strong enough that in some cases, front offices for other teams have taken steps to keep Pittsburgh fans out of games in their cities.[31] Instead of being permitted to buy tickets to a Chargers-Steelers game in San Diego, for instance, they were required to pay for tickets to two other games, as well.[32] In other cases, teams refused to sell tickets to fans calling from Pittsburgh's 412 area code, and they encouraged fans who were selling their own tickets to do the same.[31] Steelers President Art Rooney II complained to the NFL about the situation, but his grievance was not well received.[31]

Famous fans

Some notable members of Steelers Nation include Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers,[33] PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk,[34] author John Grisham,[35] actor Jake Gyllenhaal,[36] former CIA Director Michael Hayden,[37] actor Michael Keaton,[38] talk show host Rush Limbaugh,[39] actor Burt Reynolds,[40] rapper Snoop Dogg,[41] rapper Wiz Khalifa,[42] Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Diocese of Providence,[43] actor Verne Troyer[44] and country music legend Hank Williams, Jr.[45]

References

  1. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview08/columns/story?id=3530077
  2. ^ Musick, Phil (January 20, 1979 (reprinted January 06, 2010)). "Super Bowl Fans Contrast in Style". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Dvorchak, Robert (2007-10-07). "In the '70s, new coach, great drafts turned Pittsburgh into City of Champions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ^ http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11230729/2
  5. ^ http://freetothepeople.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/charming-pittsburgh-oriented-media-7-no-game-no-problem/
  6. ^ Shontz, Lori (2001-08-01). "Students thrilled their art will hang in Heinz Field". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  7. ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/football/257293_steelers27.html
  8. ^ http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A19360
  9. ^ http://www.steelers.com/article/40517
  10. ^ Dvorchak, Robert (2007-10-25). "Steelers name 33 players who stand above rest to its All-Time Team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  11. ^ http://armchairgm.wikia.com/Jack_Lambert
  12. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603958/20090130/poison.jhtml
  13. ^ http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Ham__Jack.html
  14. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=QZ_C9sig5dQC&pg=PT76&lpg=PT76&dq=%22bradshaw%27s+brigade%22&source=bl&ots=inAVVJXq0m&sig=ke3CO-XIAM24G3ZDgUgi0s6fGYQ&hl=en&ei=iYHPSqDjCtGX8Aaap9z8Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22bradshaw%27s%20brigade%22&f=false
  15. ^ "The Dolphins remained unbeaten and untouched by Pittsburgh miracles, so now all that stands between them and a perfect 17 are the Redskins". CNN. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  16. ^ ESPN - Steelers get past Seahawks for fifth Super Bowl win in club history - NFL Football Recap
  17. ^ Anderson, Shelly (2007-11-07). "Penguins Notebook: In this case, No. 20 ranking is huge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
  18. ^ Collier, Gene (2008-05-25). "This is Hockeytown?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ "Survey: Steelers Have Best Female Fan Base". KDKA. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ Thomas, G. Scott (2006-09-04). "Full fan loyalty rankings". Bizjournals. Retrieved 2009-02-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help) [dead link]
  21. ^ Thomas, G. Scott (2006-09-04). "NFL Fan Support Rankings". Bizjournals. Retrieved 2009-02-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help) [dead link]
  22. ^ Carlisle, Anthony Todd (1997-01-27). "Steelers fans aren't all that super, according to study". Pittsburgh Business Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  23. ^ Woolsey, Matt (2008-09-01). "America's Most Die-Hard Football Fans". Forbes. Retrieved 2009-02-08. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  24. ^ "ESPN ranks Steelers fans No. 1". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  25. ^ Mosley, Matt (2008-08-29). "NFL's best fans? We gotta hand it to Steelers (barely)". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  26. ^ a b Giro, Tony (2009-01-15). "Why do we hate Steelers fans? Let me count the reasons". The Baltimore Examiner. Balitmore, Md. Retrieved 2009-01-31. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help) [dead link]
  27. ^ Cizmar, Martin (2009-07-27). "Arizona Cardinals Fans, You'd Better Get Ferocious or Steelers Nation Will Eat You Alive". Phoenix New Times. Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved 2009-02-04. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  28. ^ Forrester, Paul (2007-11-07). "NFL Fan Value Experience: Pittsburgh Steelers". SI.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  29. ^ Cook, Ron (1994-12-18). "O'Donnell can't control critics or crazy bounces". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. D1. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  30. ^ McCarthy, Michael (2008-08-06). "NFL unveils new code of conduct for its fans". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  31. ^ a b c Bendel, Joe (2006-04-07). "Rooney: Opposing teams discriminate Steelers fans". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  32. ^ Bendel, Joe (2005-10-06). "Steelers are hot ticket in town". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. D3. Retrieved 2009-02-19. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help) [dead link]
  33. ^ A. D. (July 16, 2007), "Andy Samberg". Sports Illustrated. 107 (2):2
  34. ^ "Video". CNN. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  35. ^ http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09030/945688-298.stm
  36. ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09338/1018436-100.stm/
  37. ^ http://kdka.com/steelers/General.Michael.Hayden.2.911566.html
  38. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/bio
  39. ^ http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_052209/content/01125104.guest.html
  40. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000608/bio
  41. ^ # ESPN - Another great improviser: Snoop Dogg on Romo - NFL
  42. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePtoxDhJSw
  43. ^ http://www.projo.com/news/mcharlesbakst/SE_BAKST_COLUMN_17_06-17-07_3F610SH.20bdd48.html
  44. ^ http://dailydanny.metro.co.uk/2009/01/index.html
  45. ^ http://news.steelers.com/article/99004/
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