For any sports team, losing has an insidious and corrosive effect. As a youngster growing up in the Burgh during the 1960s, I recall the most oft-repeated comment about the home team, typically uttered with disgust, was “same old Steelers.” Before Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970, the Steelers’ home field was old Pitt Stadium, perched on the steep hillside overlooking the Oakland section of town. The massive, concrete oval first opened in 1925 and was used until its demolition in 1999.
Two unforgettable memories for Steelers fans old enough to have attended games at the stadium are the bitter cold of December football and the excruciatingly uncomfortable bench-type seating.