Paul Kengor: Selling out your Steelers

During the end of my time at Pitt in the late 1980s, I lucked into a prized possession, coveted by many a Pittsburgher. Courtesy of my good friend Scott Fedorek, I secured my share of the local holy grail: Steelers season tickets.

In those days, you waited decades for such a treasure. In 1991, I moved to Washington, D.C., to start grad school, but came home for Steelers games. On Sundays, we parked at the Mon Wharf with a six-pack of Iron City pounders, grilled and then made the pilgrimage across the bridge to NFL mecca — the site, of course, of near-biblical sports moments, such as the Immaculate Reception.

Three Rivers Stadium was a sea of black and gold, a tradition continuing to Heinz Field. You were hard-pressed to find even smatterings of opposing fans. You couldn’t hear them.

Until last weekend, when San Francisco 49ers fans stormed Steelers land. I wasn’t alone in hearing their roar immediately, during the first Steelers bad play.

“What in the world is that?” I barked at my TV, incredulous, mortified, in a state of catatonic shock. “ ’Tis 49ers fans I hear! Louder than Steelers Nation! This cannot be!”

It more resembled the sound of Steelers fans hijacking a stadium in San Diego or Jacksonville. But alas, the tables were turned. How had so many red-and-gold-shirted 49ers fans infiltrated our sacred ground? What accounted for this siege off the Allegheny?

For proud Steelers Nation, this was a blow. Outcheered on our turf, or so it sounded at certain moments, was a gut punch, made worse by the butt-kicking from the 49ers. Still more puzzling, 49ers fans aren’t known for this.

How this happened was a question debated by Steelers fans in offices and on sports-talk shows Monday morning. I haven’t heard a good answer, though I have a theory.

I’ve watched online ticket sales carefully. Two things have struck me: 1) the large volume of Steelers tickets available from season holders; and 2) the exorbitant price they’re fetching and getting.

According to the laws of supply and demand, this volume on many platforms ought to drive down prices. Yet, prices climb to obscene levels, and fans swipe the plastic. They’re apparently willing to blow wads of cash to fly across the country and spend weekends at hotels. For a group of four, this easily could be a $5K-plus venture.

People from the Bay Area have high per-capita incomes. And if they’re like the average American, they’ve also taken on significant personal credit-card debt.

From what I’ve gleaned — and admittedly, I have no hard data from Steelers’ offices — the 49ers invasion resulted from Steelers fans cashing in their tickets. Last Sunday’s San Francisco coup was aided and abetted by Yinzers who opened the gates to the invaders — to boo their Steelers.

This wasn’t something you saw at a Steelers stadium 30 years ago. In part, that’s because there weren’t online ticket platforms, but it’s also because those tickets were treated like gold. Many millworkers waited forever to get those tickets, which they clutched like pearls and wouldn’t sell for anything.

Today, a significant number of fans apparently will part with these cherished gems for the right price. That’s their economic free choice. But seller beware: If this trend continues, expect similar embarrassing displays when the Browns and Ravens come to town.