American Football: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2024

Pittsburgh, PA - a long drive from Virginia, but a place that still holds a lot of memories and love. 

I’ve made this drive many times over the last 15 years. First to visit my cousin during the holidays, or sometimes just to purely to see one another and catch up. Then, just a few short months after getting engaged, Haley moved there for grad school and for a year we did our best to visit each other every weekend switching between DC and Pittsburgh. And throughout all of those visits I never thought twice about the local football team, the Riverhounds. But I think it was for the best, I just wasn’t ready for the beauty found at Highmark Stadium. 

After a disappointing loss in the Third Round of the US Open Cup where the Richmond Kickers fell to Loudon FC in PKs, I needed to find a new team to follow that was “close by”. When I read the Riverhounds were to play at home vs FC Tulsa, it was finally time. 

10 minutes before making the last turn onto W Station Square Dr. you’re met with the small mountain towns that surround the city - old churches, narrow streets - sites that really echo the cultures and communities that make up Pittsburgh. 

Finally, at the stadium, the nerves started to set in. The same thoughts and feelings that typically hit me before every game crept in, but just as quickly as they came, they faded. A quick walk around, firing off a few shots, and interacting with the local fans always does the trick. Soon enough, I found my rhythm and fully immersed myself in the environment. Although the crowd was small due to the midweek fixture, the character of Pittsburgh was alive in the stadium - the Yinzers were out in full force.

When the final whistle blew, the teams shook hands, and players walked up to the stands to thank family members for coming. It seemed like a typical end to a game. But then, I witnessed a tradition at Highmark I hadn’t been aware of. Once things calmed down, fans were allowed onto the pitch to chat with the players and coaches. It was stunning to witness. Kids sprinted across the field, rushing straight to the player who hadn’t signed their jersey yet. A passionate fan gave their expert analysis, while others simply soaked in the moment.

This part right here, this was the best thing from that day. A reminder that football is about the fans, the people who show up rain or shine. A small detail, but the more I visit these lower league sides, the clearer it becomes how much they appreciate their community, their fans.

Now, I know you’re usually here for my long a** captions and not the pictures, but I hope the photos do it justice. And yes, I know I didn’t even touch on the Star Wars costume or the mascot, Amo, but maybe that’s your excuse to head out to Highmark Stadium and experience it for yourself.