Experience the thrill: Pittsburgh sports fans will have plenty to keep them busy this weekend
In the immortal words of the late great Penguins announcer Mike Lange, “Get in the fast lane, grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll.”
OK, so it’s not a church or club bingo game per se, although I’m sure you can readily find one at a place to your liking this weekend. It is, however, an action-packed three-day stretch of sports along the confluence of the city’s three rivers, and the North Shore will be buzzing all weekend.
WPIAL Playoffs
King Football kicks things off with another edition of Friday Night Lights as the WPIAL semifinal matchups take place throughout four local counties. At stake is a trip to Acrisure Stadium next weekend to crown the 2025 champions in Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 5A. Currently the representatives from the West Hills Gazette coverage area are the Bishop Canevin Crusaders in Class 1A and the Moon Area Tigers in Class 5A.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Next up, a battle of ranked college football teams as the No. 22 Pitt Panthers host the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in a noon showdown Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Activities are scheduled in and around the stadium and there will be something for fans of all ages.
Beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, things take shape on the North Shore as the gates of the parking garages and lots around the stadium go up in anticipation of a plethora of early arriving vehicles packed with Irish and Panther fans. Parking in and around the North Shore will be as difficult to obtain as a ticket to the sold-out football contest. Fans who are without prepaid parking passes have been urged to park in off-site lots and utilize public transportation.
Tailgating will take center stage as always with an earlier than normal start time by the loyal fans who by noon will seem sleep deprived or feeling pretty good via the libation route.
If tailgating isn’t your cup of tea, eateries around Rooney Avenue and beyond have advertised earlier than normal opening times for all your food and beverage needs.
Aside from the usual Pitt pregame activities along Rooney Avenue, fans will have their choice of two live pregame broadcasts that have rolled into the North Shore.
ESPN’s iconic three-hour college football pregame show, “College GameDay built by Home Depot” will broadcast live from the Great Lawn from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. The show’s final hour – starting at 11 a.m. — will be broadcast from the sidelines of Acrisure Stadium prior to the noon Pitt-Notre Dame kickoff. It will be the first time the show has returned to Pittsburgh since 2005.
In the event you’re not a fan of the ESPN broadcast, the ACC Network’s “ACC Huddle” pregame show will originate from Roc’N on Rooney Avenue starting at 10 a.m. A host of activities and events are available for fans of all ages.
The main event takes place at High Noon when the ball hits the tee for kickoff of the Panthers-Irish contest. It marks the first time ever that college football playoff ranked opponents meet at Acrisure Stadium. Pitt will be looking to secure its sixth straight win behind starting freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi shared his take on the matchup against Notre Dame when asked if this is a must-win game for his Panthers.
“This game is absolutely NOT a must-win game because it’s not an ACC game,” he said.
Narduzzi went on to say he would “gladly get beat 103 or 110-10 in that game” as long as Pitt won the next two ACC games.
He clarified that his strategy was to focus on conference play, which he believes is critical for the team’s postseason aspirations. Narduzzi also acknowledged that Notre Dame is the most athletic and talented team Pitt will face this season, calling them “America’s team.” They have the best players from all over America.
Almost sounds as if Narduzzi and his Panthers are looking beyond the Notre Dame game when questioned on his team’s focus for Saturday’s contest. When posed that question Narduzzi responded, “Again, our focus is certainly on Notre Dame and getting as many wins as we can, one game at a time.”
Some of the more notable football analysts and members of the working media have been extremely critical of Narduzzi’s comments. Some say it’s portrayed as poor messaging that could demotivate his team, particularly before a high-profile game with ESPN’s GameDay in attendance. Others believe the comments were a strategic way to manage the pressure on his team and refocus his players on the long-term goal of winning the ACC.
That’s why they play the game on the field and not at a press conference, in an article or column or sports talk show. In a day or so the outcome of this much anticipated contest will be decided.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
After all of the aforementioned and you wish to add some dessert to your after football plate so to speak, there is something that can satisfy your craving, if you can find a ticket and parking.
That being said, you can venture over to the city’s South Shore and fulfill your soccer desire. Highmark Stadium and its beautiful backdrop setting of the city of Pittsburgh is the venue for playoff soccer. No. 4 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will host seventh-seeded Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship Eastern Conference Final at 6:30 p.m. It’s the first time the Hounds have reached the Eastern Conference Final since the USL Championship adopted its current format.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In the event you failed to make it to the city’s North or South shores for any of the events mentioned, fear not as you’ll have one final chance on Sunday again at Acrisure Stadium. Provided you can find a ticket and parking as both will be at a premium as always.
The Pittsburgh Steelers play host to the Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal AFC North Division matchup as they look to avenge a week 7 loss in Cincinnati. There is a huge amount riding on this game especially with the lackluster recent play of the men in black and gold. Cam Heyward summed it up best by saying, “We have to play better as a defensive unit; division games are ones you don’t want to lose.” Very true, as the revitalized Baltimore Ravens are now right on the Steelers heels looking to regain the top spot in the division.
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