Steel Army itching to return to Highmark Stadium, cheer on Riverhounds
When the Pittsburgh Riverhounds walked on the field at Highmark Stadium for their first home game of the season July 22, there was a large banner stretched over the Paul Child Stands in the East End.
It read, “Physically Absent, Emotionally Present.”
It was a placeholder for the normally rambunctious “Steel Army” that invades Highmark Stadium each home game. Heading into that home opener against Indy Eleven, the Riverhounds hadn’t lost in 25 regular-season home games.
Although it wasn’t the same as having fans in the stands, the Riverhounds appreciated the banner.
“It was really nice, and it made me miss them,” midfielder Jordan Dover said. “But it was still nice to see that they were still rooting for us, still supporting us. It was definitely a warm feeling to see that, but it was bittersweet, too.”
The Steel Army hasn’t invaded Highmark Stadium since last season, and the Riverhounds’ home hasn’t been the same since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic because of the limit on outdoor gatherings.
Josh Brokaw, who became the Steel Army president before this season, said the fan group has tried to celebrate this season as best as they can.
Although the Steel Army hasn’t held any live watch parties yet, they have found other ways to interact and support the team. They’ve taken advantage of Zoom calls, voice chats and a Discord server, which allows them to host chat rooms so they can enjoy games together without being physically present.
A group of seven or so fans even made the 5 1/2-hour drive to Lucas Oil Stadium to see Pittsburgh take on Indy Eleven. However, the Steel Army is ready to get back inside Highmark and root for the team they’ve been supporting since 2008.
“We’re all itching to get back in there. We just want to make sure that we do it in a safe way, and we don’t want to get the club in trouble or anything like that,” Brokaw said. “We want to make sure it’s all done properly, but we’re excited for it, and it’s definitely been tough not being there. But that first game, when we’re able to go full bore and have everyone standing, it’s going to be awesome.”
The Steel Army started in 2008 when the Riverhounds announced a new ownership group and a return to the USL-2 league. The crew got together and supported the team as they competed at Chartiers Valley High School.
Each year since, the fan base has grown. So much so that the Riverhounds had to add on to the bleachers in the east end in 2018 before their home playoff match against Bethlehem Steel FC.
As the group has grown, the Riverhounds have turned into one of the best organizations in the USL Championship. They’ve experienced two of their most successful seasons the past two years, including an Eastern Conference championship last season and an unbeaten record on their home field.
Dover said the support of the Steel Army has helped take the team’s energy and level of play to new heights.
“They aren’t just there to see a game. They want to see the Riverhounds win,” Dover said. “That little bit of extra pressure brings out a little bit more energy in you, and you want to make sure the fans are going home happy. It’s huge, and it’s a big part of what we do at Highmark. We try to make it a fortress and make it hard for teams to play there and the crowd helps a lot with that as well.”
Given the success the Riverhounds have had in recent years, Brokaw and the Steel Army were looking forward to another exciting season inside of Highmark Stadium. But it has still been a little tough watching from afar this season.
“It’s been a little rough this year because the momentum was gaining and then the pandemic hit, and it still feels like the team is the best team I’ve seen in a long time,” Brokaw said. “So, it’s a little bittersweet because you want to see your team succeed no matter what. But then it’s like, of course, this is the year we can’t go to the games.
Even without the Steel Army, the Riverhounds have been able to play with a high level of energy, but coach Bob Lilley knows what having fans in the stands could bring to his team.
“That’s the hope, and I know we’ve been working on it and we are obviously hopeful that we can get some more numbers,” Lilley said. “To even have 200-300 people would be nice.”
After Saturday’s contest with St. Louis, the Riverhounds have four home games remaining on their schedule, including three in September and one during the first weekend of October.
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