A Pittsburgh Sports Tour: The Steel City In September

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I love going on road trips to see new sports venues. And to me, there is nothing better than finding a string of games in a multi-sport town so you can learn about the city and the stadiums, all in one shot.

In Pittsburgh, unless the Pirates figure things out and make the postseason, you are only able to see two of its pro teams in consecutive days.

This year, a baseball and football combo on consecutive days is only available once, so anyone planning to take a road trip to Pittsburgh this year should open up their calendar to the second week of September.

On Wednesday, September 9, the Pirates host the Chicago Cubs in a day game beginning at 12:35 pm ET. That time of year, the weather should be nice, and the Cubs figure to be in a playoff race, so there will be likely be a lot riding on the game.

I can tell you from experience that PNC Park is a great place to see a game. With nearly 70 percent of all seats at field level, PNC has the feel of an old time stadium, or the best minor league park you've ever been to.

There is a fantastic view of the city skyline and Roberto Clemente bridge in right center field, and the food is some of the best in the majors.

Best of all, the price is right, and tickets can be found in abundance. It's definitely a great place to see a game.

Besides, when will you ever get a chance to see nine innings on 9/9/09?

The Steelers, on the other hand, are a tough ticket to come by. They will open the NFL season on Thursday night, September 10, against the Tennessee Titans. The current low price on Stub Hub is $180 for a nose bleed seat—or approximately the cost to sit front row behind home plate for the Pirates.

Given that Steelers fans are some of the best in the NFL, and they are coming off a Super Bowl victory, against a conference rival on the league's opening night, you can't be too surprised by the inflated costs.

Heinz Field also features a view of the Pittsburgh skyline due to its horseshoe shape, opening to the river. It consistently is ranked as one of the top stadiums in the NFL.

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