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Many Bars Hang Out Welcome Sign For Steelers Fans

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2009

TAMPA - It used to be quiet on Sundays at O'Brien's Irish Pub of Tampa.

But that was 15 years ago, before the Bay Area Black and Gold Club, one of the largest local Pittsburgh Steelers fan clubs, asked to make the neighborhood pub its official home.

"Every Sunday, no matter what their record, regardless if they're 1-14 or 14-1, they're not what you call fair-weather fans. They're loyal fans," owner Bernie O'Brien said. "I'm a Bucs fan, but business is business."

Two weeks ago, when the Steelers won the AFC championship and secured a spot in Super Bowl XLIII, more than 250 fans cheered the team on at O'Brien's. The five-time champion Steelers are facing the Arizona Cardinals, a team making its first trip to the Super Bowl.

For game day, O'Brien expects more than 1,000 people to pack his bar as fans of both teams travel to Tampa to take part in a weeklong celebration that culminates with the Feb. 1 game at Raymond James Stadium.

For Pittsburgh fans, it's almost like a homecoming. A review of fan Web sites lists more than 30 bars in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties that are Steelers-friendly.

Many have special events planned this week, as well as private parties, reserved seating and other fan perks on game day. Pittsburgh sports radio personalities will be broadcasting live from O'Brien's and Tank's Tap Room, another Steelers bar on Dale Mabry Highway.

"They're really pushing us as the Pittsburgh Steelers' headquarters in Tampa," manager Damon Cornelius said. "We've been getting a lot of phone calls from people who live in Pittsburgh."

And the Cardinals – how many bars locally cater to the NFC champions, the unexpected Cinderella team from the West?

"I don't know of any down here," said Violet Pelc, who founded the Bay Area Black and Gold Club with her husband, Walter.

"I've never heard of one," said Lacey Swan, manager of Rudy's Sports Bar in Largo, a Steelers-only bar.

Arizona fan Scott Allen said it isn't surprising to hear that there don't appear to be any Cardinals-specific bars.

"The Cardinals never have been a huge draw nationally, first of all," said Allen, 35, of Mesa, Ariz. He's the lead blogger for Raisingzona.com, a Cardinals Web site that tracks the team and offers fans a chance to communicate.

"I did put a post up asking people to comment if they were going to the game, and if so, where they plan on hanging out," Allen said by e-mail. "That unfortunately did not generate a single response."

Pelc said she expects any Cardinals fans coming to Tampa will have tickets to the game. If not, she said she doesn't want to see any red and white jerseys in O'Brien's on game day.

Down the road at Tank's, the atmosphere might be a bit more inviting for an unsuspecting Cardinals fan who wanders in on Super Bowl Sunday.

"I would say he'd be welcome," Cornelius said, "but I would say he'd be up for some friendly banter, especially if he's wearing his gear."

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915.

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