Suspend Your Disbelief: Cleveland Bar Will Welcome Steelers Fans

PITTSBURGH, PA - As any true follower of Pittsburgh’s storied football franchise is aware, Steelers fans are among the NFL’s most loyal and passionate. Large contingents of them often travel to road games to root on the Black and Gold, even to cities where proudly displaying Steelers’ colors can result in dangerous if not life-threatening situations.

As a public service this season, before every Steelers’ road game Patch will try to find places in enemy territory where Steelers fans can safely find refuge before, during or after the contest. In many cities, that won’t be hard. In Cleveland, where the Steelers open the season Sunday against the Browns, the task proved difficult.

We found one - count ‘em, one - establishment in Cleveland where Steelers fans won’t have to worry: Rivals Sports Grille at 6710 Smith Road in Cleveland. We were tipped to the place by a Yelp reviewer who wrote, “There (is) a large contingent of Steelers fans that frequent this bar on Sundays.”

To make sure the review wasn’t written by a Browns fans looking to lure and then ambush unsuspecting Steelers fans, we called the place. When we asked if anyone in Steelers garb would be safe in there, a hostess who identified herself as Selena said, “Everyone’s welcome here, but on Sundays we usually have the Browns on the TVs.”

Reminded that the Browns are playing the Steelers this week, she said, “Oh. I’m not much of a sports fan.”

If you’re a Steelers fan going to Cleveland this weekend, Patch recommends a stop at Rivals.

Photos: Yelp.