Steelers Fans, This Bradenton Bar Is For You

Let’s face it, there would be no better place to watch Sunday’s AFC Championship game than on the 50-yard line at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.

But Bradenton residents know the next best place to watch the game surrounded by Steelers family, good food and even a Pittsburgh-based beer is , 4669 Cortez Rd.

Fan-Atics is the Gulf Coast home of the Pittsburgh sports nut. It’s a popular gathering place for all kinds of sports fans, as well as Steelers, Pirates and Penguin diehards, because it carries most every cable sports package available. But one look inside and it’s evident Fan-Atics bleeds black and gold.

The interior walls, painted in Steelers gold, are adorned with pennants, posters and plaques celebrating the storied history of the franchise. Steelers banners hang from the ceiling and another banner outside the bar congratulates the Super Bowl XLIII champions.  

“I always feel like I’m home when I’m in here,” said Paula Showalter, a Pittsburgh transplant and one of the many ardent Steeler supporters who packed Fan-Atics last Saturday afternoon and kept it lively with cheers of support.

They had gathered to watch their beloved team take on the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoffs, and the Steelers didn’t disappoint. They fell to a 21-7 halftime deficit, which quieted the crowd briefly, but the place went crazy as the Steelers stormed back for a 31-24 victory.

The victory, in addition to a New England Patriots loss, awards the Steelers homefield advantage as they face the New York Jets in the AFC finale; kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Fan-Atics is sure to be hopping.

Angela Voss, Fan-Atics owner, is prepping for a larger and even more energized crowd for the Sunday game – if that’s possible.

“Oh yeah, that’s possible,” she said with a laugh. “I would say it’s probably going to be a bigger crowd. They’re playing at Pittsburgh, and we have a lot of season ticket holders who are going, but I would say we should have a little more than Saturday.”

Seats were at a premium by kickoff last weekend, so get there early.

The bar was clearly set up for game watching Saturday; Tables and chairs were rearranged to face the 64-inch screen in the corner and were filled 90 minutes before kickoff. Even the bar’s pool tables were converted into tables with makeshift plywood tabletops and chairs.

Fan-Atics has been a Pittsburgh hangout since it opened nearly 20 years ago. Voss, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, bought it 15 years ago but opted to stick with the successful formula of the Pittsburgh flavor. She admitted Bucs fans have a fickle side, while Steelers fans keep coming back for more.

But Fan-Atics is a sports bar, and everyone is welcome, Voss said. The bar has 12 televisions in addition to its giant projection screen, and although every available TV was tuned into the Steelers playoff game on Saturday, regular season games are different.

“We allow all fans in here,” she said. “We wouldn’t turn down anyone if they wanted to come in here and watch New England. We don’t like New England, but we’ll show them.”

She said even a group of Cleveland Browns fans who visit Bradenton every year have become Fan-Atics regulars on Sunday afternoons during the football season. They’ve even become friends with some of the bar’s Steelers regulars, despite the two teams being arch enemies in the football world.

Brothers Mike and Bobby Hill survived. Dressed in Baltimore Ravens jerseys, these brave Bradenton residents boldly strolled through the door before kickoff to a good-natured chorus of boos.

“If we’re up, we’re sneaking out of here with 30 seconds left in the game,” Mike said.

But they held their own, even engaging in some friendly banter with a couple Steeler fans.

When Fan-Atics isn’t the scene of a televised sports game, it is popular with the younger crowd. They filter in around 10 p.m. on weekend nights as ESPN is muted in favor of juke box music and karaoke. Iron City Beer, Pittsburgh’s signature brew since 1861, is a tasty reminder of home for Pittsburgh sports fans. The bar serves more than 20 other domestic and import beers, in addition to liquor and wine. Fan-Atics also serves food (Pirate Chicken Fingers, Steelers Hotdog, Penguin Poppers) during the day and late into the evening.

“Best bar in town,” said Bradenton resident Jamie Colavito. “It may not do the business that some of the other ones do, but its patrons are the most loyal.”

And unless they’re at Heinz Field on Sunday, chances are they’ll be at Fan-Atics.  

IF YOU GO

, 4669 Cortez Rd., is located in the Bradenton Commons-Cortez shopping plaza. Its hours are noon-2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. on football Sundays and noon-2:30 a.m. on non-football Sundays. Call them at (941) 761-0833.

AROUND BRADENTON THIS WEEKEND

• Get Down Downtown, the monthly street party in downtown Bradenton, is scheduled for 6-10 p.m. Thursday on Old Main Street. Live music from Bradenton-based band Big Daddy and dozens of vendors lining both sides of historic Old Main Street selling food, arts, crafts and more. Plenty more food and drinks to be found in Old Main Street’s restaurants and bars. “Get Down” ends at 10 p.m. but the bars stay open until 2:30 a.m.
• Alternative Night at Bradenton’s Cancun Mexican-Cuban Grill, El Tropico, 5120 Manatee Ave. W., from 10-2 a.m. Thursday. Drag queen show, salsa and meringue music and Spanish dishes late into the night.
• , 1200 First Ave. W., is now offering an Organic Margarita made with Casa Noble Tequila (100 percent Blue Agave, certified organic) and organic agave nectar with a squeeze of fresh lime. Try one this Friday while listening to music from Shotgun Justice. The band plays from 7-11 p.m.
• Live music from 6-10 p.m. Friday from blues-rock-reggae band Kettle of Fish at , 6218 Cortez Rd. Clancy’s has nightly live music and never a cover.
• Live R&B and blues – along with the best soul food buffet in town –Sunday night starting around 6:30 p.m. at , 5131 14^th St. W. Cover: $10.