Looking for Sports Bar in Pittsburgh with BTN
I will be in Pittsburgh this weekend for the Steelers home opener. Looking for a place to watch the UM game on Saturday.
Looked through this site and there was a topic a few years about about Michigan bars and the consensus was that there is not a Michigan bar in the area. However, does anyone know of a bar that has the BTN?
I ask because in March I was in Florida during the B1G basketball tournament and most bars there did not have BTN in their lineup.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
I would imagine Pennsylvania would have it at least in a Buffalo Wild Wings, but maybe you are looking for something not as commercial feeling.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
My immediate thought, too. BW3 started in Columbus and the original name was Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck. Roast Beef on kummelweck is a big deal in the Pittsburgh area, so I would imagine you can find a BW3 pretty easily.
September 15th, 2021 at 9:23 PM ^
There are shockingly few Buffalo Wild Wings in Pittsburgh (sadly) but most sports bars here should have BTN. Pittsburgh is squarely in the Big Ten footprint and Penn State has a night game. I'd expect you to find it at any bar in the North Shore -- where Heinz Field is and I assume you'll be.
September 15th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
Quaker Steak and Lube? That’s a PA version of BW3’s right?
September 15th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
Random story time:
On the day of The Horror, I was on the west coast, so it was a 9a kickoff, and I didn't plan to watch the game anyway. But I kept checking the score online, until finally, around 11a, decided I need to find a place to watch the end of this game.
No places were open, let alone even carried the Big Ten Network back then. Finally, I found a Buffalo Wild Wings that was going to open just as the game was ending, so I decided to camp outside their doors and wait.
While waiting, I had very limited updates from a very primitive ESPN app that was like 5 minutes behind the live game. I saw that was going to be close, but kept my hopes up.
Finally, the manager opens the door, and with a box of wings and says "You the guy waiting on the Michigan game?". I confirmed I was. He hands me the box of wings and goes "You probably don't want to come in here".
At that point, I knew. I went back home and ate the tastiest wings on the saddest day of fandom.
TL/DR: BW3's carries BTN.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
I was in KC with some friends (all UM grads also) for that weekend. We had plans out on the town that day (since the UM game was *not* available to watch), but I was able to check the score on the incredibly-slow internet on my flip phone. I remember getting a chuckle that morning when checking who we played ("We're playing some team called 'Appalachian State'... doesn't even sound like a real school" - clearly knew as much then as our coaching staff did). I gave out score updates at different points and gave the final score out to everyone as we were sitting down for dinner. Probably best we couldn't watch.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:05 PM ^
Yeah, it would be very likely at least one of the 2,345 TV's at the average BWW has BTN.
September 15th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Unfortunately, commercial might be his best bet. If you don’t want something commercial, call and ask if they have cable or satellite. Armstrong cable serves much of the Pittsburgh area and they still, despite being about halfway between State College and Columbus, do not offer the Big Ten network in any of their channel lineups.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
Unlike Florida, Pennsylvania is considered to be in the B1G region. Plus Pittsburgh almost splits the difference between Columbus and State College. I'm willing to bet that just about every bar will have BTN. But you can always call ahead and ask.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:08 PM ^
My concern is that Pitt is an ACC school. Not sure how the city is divided
September 15th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
Pretty sure a major city isn't going to isolate itself from a wildly successful sports network purely out of adulation for the local commuter school.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
It's easier to find Michigan games on TV (by a lot) than Pitt games in Pittsburgh
September 15th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^
Very few care about Pitt - see their home attendance at Heinz field. Such a nuisance for those of us in Pittsburgh who root for real powers / conferences.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
Google might be your friend:
September 15th, 2021 at 1:07 PM ^
Thanks. I didn't do much of a Google dive.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
Dunno how accurate this is but worth calling around to a few:
https://gamewatch.info/teams/michigan-wolverines/cities/pittsburgh-pa/bars
September 15th, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^
Kind of a clunky site, but I confirmed the Cincy & Nashville bars were correct.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
Honestly, I would assume almost any sports bar will have B10 network. Particularly in the middle of B10 territory.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:48 PM ^
I thought that in Florida too, but not one had it. So I sat at the bar with the game playing on my phone.
September 15th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
When in Florida. Find a Kerr's Wing House! They have EVERY game possible!
September 15th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
Usually every large city has a bar or other where the local UM Alumni Club gathers to watch games. Might be worth reaching out to the Alumni Association.
Also, I have a buddy from undergrad at Michigan who went to Pitt for law school and am inquiring. Will update when I hear back.
UPDATE: From my buddy, "pre-COVID the local alumni group had watch parties at 412 Brewery and Galley (smallman location). Per their Facebook page not yet doing any formal watch parties yet."
September 15th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
This is the least interesting OP in a long time. Didn't we used to have a spreadsheet for this? What are the interns doing?
September 15th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
I'm going to briefly hijack this Pittsburgh thread with a reminder that today is the day we celebrate one of the greatest human beings and athletes in the history of the City of Pittsburgh, the immortal Roberto Clemente.
https://www.mlb.com/news/roberto-clemente-day-celebrated-for-2021
September 15th, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
I live here and can tell you it will not be hard to find BTN in a bar
September 15th, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
I’m a Michigan fan living in Pittsburgh. You won’t have any trouble finding the game at any sports bar here. I’ve never missed a game at home or, more frequently in my case, at bars. What part of the city will you be staying in?
September 15th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
Staying at the Homewood Suits Pittsburgh Downtown.
September 15th, 2021 at 4:09 PM ^
Hotel might have btn. And a bar.
September 15th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
Me personally? I’d just go to Rivers Casino on the North Side and post up at the Sportsbook and lose everything there. There is also a couple of bars between PNC Park and Heinz Field which will have TVs going. I like Southern Tier or Bar Louie but I’m a washed up dad. If you’re a college student, South Side will have unlimited options. If you’re young professional, Shady Side will have less options but some nonetheless. If you’re looking for a bit slower, go to the North Side as mentioned above.
I don’t know where Pitt plays this weekend so that would turn the North Side into a bit more of a busy place since Heinz Field is right there.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
I’m calling BS on “most bars [in Florida] did not have BTN”. Mostly so others don’t read that and panic if they are in Florida and need to find the game. I will put it this way: I have never been to a bar in Florida that had televisions and did NOT have BTN.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
Well, maybe not most, but I went to 3 including a well known chain and none of them had it.
September 15th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
You sure they didn’t have it, as opposed to didn’t know where to find it? I ask because most bars have Direct and their sports package is going to have it (but theIt staff, in fairness, being outside of the footprint, might not know where to look). Truly, I would be shocked if they actually didn’t.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:53 PM ^
Haven’t lived there in 20 years, but Doc’s in Shadyside was my spot. Owned by a UM grad too!
September 15th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
From some quick research, looks like the Pittsburgh branch of the Alumni Association elected not to host viewing parties this year bc of the Delta Variant, but in previous years they had watch parties at 412 Brewery.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
I would wager you could ask any sports bar you find yourself at, and, so long everyone there wasn’t hyper focused on watching pitt or psu or something on any given Saturday, you would be fine. No research necessary unless you were trying to find some specific Michigan viewing party. BTN isn’t some off-shoot tv channel anymore, specifically at a sports bar.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
As a Browns fan who knows Pittsburgh all too well I'm afraid you are correct. There are no bars there that will be showing the Michigan game - all channels will be set to programming more suitable for their audience.
You should probably cancel the trip, sell your ticket and just stay home.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Apparently some joint called 412 Brewery
September 15th, 2021 at 1:57 PM ^
Yeah, I grew up there and Pgh. college football is all about Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia. Might be tough to find sympathetic UM viewers there. In any event, check the Strip District and South Side for possibilities. Both are fun areas to hang out.
September 15th, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
That would be almost every bar there???
I know where I live they all have it
September 15th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
I thought for sure that adding Rutger to the B1G would make it so every TV in the NE would have access to B1G Network.
September 15th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
My son just graduated from Pitt.
Try http://fuelandfuddle.com/. It’s right on Pitt campus with local Sports but lots of Screens. They would show any game you ask for