Pittsburgh Steelers Can Expect Home-Field Advantage in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. -- Taking a short walk from the Super Bowl media center to the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Tampa, I decided to count up how many fans I walked past wearing Steelers garb, and how many wearing Cardinals apparel.

The result? I saw 37 fans in black and gold, and exactly zero in red and white. It's safe to say the Steelers are going to have home-field advantage on Sunday.

Thousands of Super Bowl tickets go to corporate sponsors, people affiliated with the NFL, and other neutral observers, so teams never enjoy the kind of home-field advantage they get in their own stadiums. But Pittsburgh fans are loyal to their Steelers and only too happy to travel to cheer them on, and there's no question that the crowd will be Steeler-friendly.

There will be some Cardinals fans in the house on Sunday, even though I haven't seen them yet in Tampa. I know of at least a couple of Cardinals fans in Tampa because The Arizona Republic did the hard work of tracking them down. But it's looking like Super Bowl XLIII will be a lot like Super Bowl XL, when tens of thousands of Steelers fans filled Ford Field in Detroit. The Steelers had the crowd behind them that day, and they should again this weekend.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark said he thinks it's going to be a huge advantage.

"The Cardinals will be booed, period." Clark said. "Take nothing away from them. They're a great story. But Steelers fans will find a way to be here more than Cardinals fans. And that's a great feeling. To have Jacksonville feel like a home game. To have San Diego feel like a home game. We've got the best fans in the world."

The world -- and the Cardinals -- will see how good those fans are Sunday.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-30-2009 @ 3:20PM

ged2560 said...

Black & Gold Trumps A Silly Looking Bird !!

Go D !!!!!!!!!!

1-30-2009 @ 3:21PM

eternityleigh said...

go steelers!!! the best team n da burgh.

1-30-2009 @ 4:03PM

johnnytrapani said...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are truly America's team. No "individual" egos that are bigger than the team, classy owners, tough, resilient, intelligent. Everything the Cowboys are not!

1-30-2009 @ 4:20PM

inmemryofjj said...

Ben is way over rated. If Steelers win it won't be because of him. Go Cards

1-31-2009 @ 6:18PM

lahs456 said...

Ben over rated? Why because he wins the big games? Or is he over rated because he just wins? Guess I am missing your point that he is over rated.

1-30-2009 @ 4:24PM

johnstyz said...

OVERRATED... YOUR INTELLI
GENCE IS OVERRATED

1-30-2009 @ 4:55PM

Mike J said...

soon 6 superbowls!!
Number one in the NFL PERIOD!
The STEEL CURTAN LIVES!!

STEELERS NUMBER 1

1-30-2009 @ 5:13PM

Debbie said...

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!!

1-30-2009 @ 6:16PM

tychar said...

I LOVE MY STEELERS. I LOVED THE DYNASTY IN THE 70'S AND I LOVE THE STEEL CURTAIN OF TODAY. WE WILL BE THE FIRST TEAM TO WIN 6 SUPER BOWLS!!!!!

1-30-2009 @ 7:25PM

bcp6343 said...

both teams suck for the super bowl their already saying this will be the least watched game in 20 years.

1-30-2009 @ 7:44PM

Thatsabsurd said...

I sure hope you don't watch it jackass!

1-30-2009 @ 8:23PM

samalfor said...

steelers all the way go 6 pack

1-30-2009 @ 9:55PM

avianmayhem said...

I don't care for football myself, but my Pop loved it, and he loved his Steelers, so whenever they're in the Superbowl, I'm very excited. I'm sure on Sunday, Pop will be up there on a cloud someplace with a can of Bud in his hand. I'm rooting too, Pop, and someday I'll be there to sneak a sip off your can again.
Love, your Baby Girl

1-30-2009 @ 10:48PM

Thursday Night! said...

GO STILLERS!

1-30-2009 @ 11:14PM

debbie said...

boring yes, it been fix before the season even started. With the nfl.shop and there new line of hats with 1ring, 2rings, 3rings etc... NFL - natonal fix league thats what it stands for.

1-31-2009 @ 9:04AM

Jeff said...

the steelers defense will be the way for them to bring home # 6 ring to the steel city.

1-31-2009 @ 10:33AM

dunedogi said...

The Birds Steel SuperBowl XL111

1-31-2009 @ 4:13PM

pennso said...

The excitement here in Tampa is at defcon 4 and by far the people are backing the Steelers. What a great team for the passed 35 years and it is because of the Rooney family. GO STEELERS!!

1-31-2009 @ 11:08PM

Mark Cherpak said...

The Pittsburg Steelers should receive and take the 6 pack, however, the steelers have the tendency to become very conservative through games that count! They will create a magnificent lead and then commence to conserve their play habits and the game instantly becomes on the line! I've been a die-hard fan of the Black and Gold since the 'Bradshow' era under the true steel curtain! Let's hope this game does not penerate their heads as a sure win- otherwise the Cardinals will see it and will outgun the Steerlers! This has happened numerous times with games on the line! Let's just hope the Super Bowl and the hype don't bleed the minds of the Steelers or we are in trouble! The Steelers need to concentrate on the game itself and nothing else- otherwise- the winner will be the Cards!