Steelers' Fans Flock To Heinz Field, Leave Happy With Home Opener Win
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The first home game of the regular season brought thousands of Steelers' fans to the North Shore on Sunday afternoon.
Most of the black and gold-clad fans were smiling as they filed out of Heinz Field following the Steelers' 27-10 stomping of the New York Jets.
However, the game and festivities didn't get perfect marks from everyone.
The game was sold out, no surprise there, and getting into Heinz Field, not a problem. By now, fans are getting used to the wanding process.
There was only anticipation in the air.
"We gonna to do it all. We're going all the way," said one fan.
Even the Jets' fans who braved the black and gold crowds came with high hopes.
"Actually, I'm a New York City fireman for the FDNY, and one of our guys is getting deployed to Afghanistan, and we all came here as a sendoff - to send him off to Afghanistan," said Mike Meyers, a Jets' fan.
For the most part, the Steelers lived up to the hype. Fans were pumped before, during and after the game. However, some were not happy with the refs.
"I've been here 48 years; this has to be one of the worst officiated games I've ever seen in my life," said Steelers' fan Dan Cortazzo. "Terrible."
After the game was over, the other challenge of the night was getting people home. Port Authority officials said they had a plan in place to keep everyone safe during their travels.
"We have 11 waiting, 11 cars waiting; so as we fill up here, there will be another one pulling in," said Bill Steinmetz, of the Port Authority.
Officials with the Port Authority say it all translated into about a five to seven minute wait for a train to Downtown Pittsburgh and beyond.
But at the end of a very busy day, most commuters seemed to feel that it was a smooth ride for the first home game and a smooth game for the home opener.
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Big Ben Shines As Steelers Beat Jets 27-10 For 1st Win Of Season (9/16/12)
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