The Eagles look to continue their nine-game winning streak when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. There’s a sports bar in Philadelphia that puts fans of both teams under one roof.
At the O’Neals Irish Pub in Queen Village, the first floor is dedicated to the Birds and is known as the Eagle’s Nest. The second floor is called Steelers Alley with a giant banner that says “You’re in Steelers Country.”
“It’s going to be a very interesting game,” said Greg “Spoonie” Rand, managing partner of O’Neals Irish Pub. “When things are going well for the Steelers, you hear shouting here. When the Eagles are doing well, you can hear them shouting downstairs. So it will be, it will be quite exciting.”
As for how O’Neals became a haven for Steelers fans, Rand said it all started in 2008 when a Steelers fan asked for a place to cheer on his team. Rand said he agreed to provide it. Then the Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2009. Rand has been riding this wave ever since.
“I made sure Steelers Alley was open every Steelers game,” Rand said. “They come with fifty people every time.”
Steelers fan Ashley Einersen of Gibsonia, Allegheny County, said she is looking forward to seeing the game at Lincoln Financial Field and stopping at O’Neals along the way.
“We’re driving to Philadelphia tonight, and we’re staying where the Steelers players are staying, and then we’re going to O’Neals because I hear it’s the best Steeler bar in Philadelphia,” Einersen said.
Einersen said she thinks the Steelers will win. Eagles fans disagree.
“Seeing that the Steelers haven’t done well lately, when the Steelers [fans] As they come down, the Eagles fans harass them as they come down the stairs. “It’s kind of like shame when the Steelers lose,” Rand said.
With two powerful Pennsylvania teams in one stadium, fans say they are confident it will be a great game.
Madeleine Wright
