Pittsburgh is likely the best small sports town in the country, which is often overlooked by a broad range of sports fans within the US.
How is it possible that this small city with a population of just 300,000 managed to receive three major sports franchises? Pittsburgh is incredibly fortunate, especially when you consider the success that some of these teams have had over the years.
However, it is worth noting that one team is the black sheep of the family. While the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins are regarded as two of the best sports franchises of all time, the Pittsburgh Pirates are overlooked in this city as they fight for attention and acclaim.
What will it take for the Pirates to finally find their place in this city?
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are among the oldest teams in MLB. The team has an extensive history, as well as its fair share of ups and downs. Unfortunately, recent years have been quite unfortunate for the team. This season, the Pirates are among the worst teams in baseball and this trend has been going on for the last few years.
When we look at a Pennsylvania sportsbook, we can see that the Pirates are the underdog in most of the matchups they have left this season. This includes their divisional matches against teams like the Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds, meaning there is not much to look forward to for the rest of the season if you’re a Pirates fan.
Why Doesn’t Pittsburgh Support the Pirates?
Historically, the Pirates had a few World Series Championships, but the last one was in 1979. This means the Pirates have one of the longest World Series droughts in baseball. Put frankly, Pittsburgh is not a city that’s used to losing and therefore it’s at odds with the team. Pittsburgh has an “increasingly cold relationship” with the team and these feelings come from several important factors.
The Pirates have a long history of putting the business before the sport and this is something that fans in this city can feel. Their history of trading away promising players once they become too expensive and overall mismanagement, accompanied with a reoccurring “we’ll get ‘em next season” attitude is what keeps fans from forming a bond with this team.
As a result, the Pirates are not well supported at home and the future is always uncertain. Also, while numerous other teams have raised their ticket prices, the Pirates home tickets have continuously dropped. This demonstrates that fans are gradually walking away.
If the Pirates want to be held to the same esteem as the Steelers and Penguins, they need to show that they are serious about competing for a championship. This team needs a direction and a clear future, not a constant state of rebuilding.
Pittsburgh Penguins
If we look at the Penguins, we can see a completely different attitude. Despite being the youngest of the three local teams, the Penguins have a solid fan base.
Over the last 30 years, the team has won 5 Stanley Cup championships, including 2 since 2015. Regardless of this, the Penguins also have continuously demonstrated that they are willing to invest in getting talented players and do what it takes to win.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Of course, the real pride and joy of the city is most certainly the Steelers. This team is one of the iconic NFL franchises and their accomplishments have assured that they will be remembered forever.
The Steelers have 6 Super Bowl championships, 24 division championships, and 32 playoff appearances that keep the hope for fans alive. This team is intertwined with the identity of the city and fans know that every year they strive to be the champions, regardless of their roster.
