Do you think there is a legitimate sports rivalry between NY and Pittsburgh?

[Buzz Rules]

Do you think there is a legitimate sports rivalry between NY and Pittsburgh?

 

[pens4821]

Not baseball or football. I don’t see any teams in NY being a rival of the Pirates or Steelers. However, the Rangers I would say are a rival of the Penguins and have been (Flyers are the biggest). A couple years here and there the Islanders also.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Not baseball or football. I don’t see any teams in NY being a rival of the Pirates or Steelers. However, the Rangers I would say are a rival of the Penguins and have been (Flyers are the biggest). A couple years here and there the Islanders also.

I ask because our soccer teams will play each other in two weeks (USL Championship vs MLS) for the first time and I'm curious if a friendly rivalry could start organically. I mean I know soccer is popular in Philly (the Union play in the suburbs) so I'm curious if NYCFC (the Pigeons) coming to Pittsburgh (the Riverhounds) will actually attract new fans if a rivalry already existed. I mean Google AI said this:

"Yes, Pittsburgh has a baseball rivalry with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. While the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets is less intense than other MLB rivalries, it does exist, particularly due to their competition in the National League East. The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees is more pronounced, especially given the Yankees' historical dominance and the Pirates' efforts to compete with them."

"Yes, Pittsburgh and New York have sports rivalries in both the NFL and NHL. In the NFL, there's a rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, and a less intense one between the Steelers and the New York Jets. In the NHL, there's a notable rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers."

 

[Buzz Rules]

Not baseball or football. I don’t see any teams in NY being a rival of the Pirates or Steelers. However, the Rangers I would say are a rival of the Penguins and have been (Flyers are the biggest). A couple years here and there the Islanders also.

What are your must see places/things to do when visiting Pittsburgh?

 

[pens4821]

What are your must see places/things to do when visiting Pittsburgh?

I think the best thing is to take the Duquesne incline up to Mount Washington then have dinner somewhere up there. It’s a beautiful spot to oversee the city looking towards the point (meeting of 3 rivers). The inclines are also a neat experience.

Taking in a baseball game (even if not sports oriented) I’d always recommend. The park is beautiful and it sits right beside the river. There is a history center that is mostly Pittsburgh history but I think anyone would find it interesting. The strip district is a strip of shops and food stores which is also kind of a fun experience. Those would be my must do recommendations.

Theres a casino but nothing special about it, just a normal casino. I’ve never been but heard the Carnegie museum of natural history is one of the better in the country. The conservatory, aviary, mattress factory (art), and andy Warhol museum get a lot of recognition (although none would interest me). There is a science center by the sports stadiums that I enjoyed as a child. Couple venues for broadway type shows/orchestra/concerts.

Venturing out a little from downtown Kennywood is a pretty fun amusement park and the zoo is nice. For the 20 something crowd the south side is the happening spot on the weekends, but if it’s not your scene I would stay away. Fine during the day though with quite a few of good places to eat.

Pittsburgh I don’t think gets enough credit for how much you can do while visiting. Such a wide array of things to do. A lot of it is within walking distance. And for the most part anywhere you’d be for all this it’s a safe city.

 

[pens4821]

I ask because our soccer teams will play each other in two weeks (USL Championship vs MLS) for the first time and I'm curious if a friendly rivalry could start organically. I mean I know soccer is popular in Philly (the Union play in the suburbs) so I'm curious if NYCFC (the Pigeons) coming to Pittsburgh (the Riverhounds) will actually attract new fans if a rivalry already existed. I mean Google AI said this:

"Yes, Pittsburgh has a baseball rivalry with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. While the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets is less intense than other MLB rivalries, it does exist, particularly due to their competition in the National League East. The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees is more pronounced, especially given the Yankees' historical dominance and the Pirates' efforts to compete with them."

"Yes, Pittsburgh and New York have sports rivalries in both the NFL and NHL. In the NFL, there's a rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, and a less intense one between the Steelers and the New York Jets. In the NHL, there's a notable rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers."

The Riverhounds have gained popularity the last couple years. They went from being sparsely attended to I believe selling out games. I always say I’m going to get to one but just haven’t. Not a soccer fan, but would still love to get to a game.

As far as the rivalries I just don’t see it. I don’t remember the Pirates really ever having a rivalry with the Mets. And the Yankees we didn’t play up until inter league play started. I guess maybe you could say the were rivals in 1960 when the Pirates beat them in the World Series but that’s way before my time.

Same with the Jets and Giants. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say either of those teams would be considered a rival of the Steelers (even historically speaking when it was more the Raiders and Cowboys).

 

[Buzz Rules]

The Riverhounds have gained popularity the last couple years. They went from being sparsely attended to I believe selling out games. I always say I’m going to get to one but just haven’t. Not a soccer fan, but would still love to get to a game.

As far as the rivalries I just don’t see it. I don’t remember the Pirates really ever having a rivalry with the Mets. And the Yankees we didn’t play up until inter league play started. I guess maybe you could say the were rivals in 1960 when the Pirates beat them in the World Series but that’s way before my time.

Same with the Jets and Giants. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say either of those teams would be considered a rival of the Steelers (even historically speaking when it was more the Raiders and Cowboys).

I would recommend going to that US Open match. They only come once a year for most USL teams when they get to the final rounds.
https://www.riverhounds.com/news/2025/04/17/open-cup-draw-hosting-nycfc-2025/

 

[Buzz Rules]

The Riverhounds have gained popularity the last couple years. They went from being sparsely attended to I believe selling out games. I always say I’m going to get to one but just haven’t. Not a soccer fan, but would still love to get to a game.

As far as the rivalries I just don’t see it. I don’t remember the Pirates really ever having a rivalry with the Mets. And the Yankees we didn’t play up until inter league play started. I guess maybe you could say the were rivals in 1960 when the Pirates beat them in the World Series but that’s way before my time.

Same with the Jets and Giants. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say either of those teams would be considered a rival of the Steelers (even historically speaking when it was more the Raiders and Cowboys).

They want to expand the stadium to 15k.

 

[pens4821]

They want to expand the stadium to 15k.

I think that’s a great idea. It has a great setting right by the river looking towards downtown. Not the same river that PNC Park is on, you actually have a completely different city view than you would from the Pirates stadium.

You didn’t hear much at all about them for the first maybe 20ish years. But the last few I believe they’ve been good, and the local news now reports on them too. Great to see another popular sports team in the city.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I think that’s a great idea. It has a great setting right by the river looking towards downtown. Not the same river that PNC Park is on, you actually have a completely different city view than you would from the Pirates stadium.

You didn’t hear much at all about them for the first maybe 20ish years. But the last few I believe they’ve been good, and the local news now reports on them too. Great to see another popular sports team in the city.

They might have MLS ambitions now too. They are only one league below MLS right now.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Their games are on ESPN+ and Paramount Plus by the way.

 

[Buzz Rules]

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/watch-live-pittsburgh-riverhounds-games-2025-usl-season/

 

[pens4821]

Their games are on ESPN+ and Paramount Plus by the way.

I don’t watch every game, but if they are on and there isn’t anything else on I will watch. I always say I’d like soccer if the field was half the size it is. Just not enough action for me. Just back and forth with very little good opportunities (from the limited amount of soccer I watch anyway).

 

[Buzz Rules]

I don’t watch every game, but if they are on and there isn’t anything else on I will watch. I always say I’d like soccer if the field was half the size it is. Just not enough action for me. Just back and forth with very little good opportunities (from the limited amount of soccer I watch anyway).

The world cup here may change your mind. Have you watched the Union (Philly) before?

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I would say more with Philly than Pitt.