Breaking out the terrible towels and Le'veon Bell jerseys can only mean one thing— fall is here for Steelers Nation.
In Atlanta, the best way to stay up on all things NFL and Pittsburgh is to join the Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Atlanta, an "informal group of Pittsburgh Steeler fans whose sole purpose is to get together on Sundays to cheer the Steelers back to the Super Bowl."
The group really is informal — no officers, meetings or dues — but boasts a strong black and gold presence on game days, especially at Smith's Olde Bar.
Here are a few bars that are perfect for watching the Steelers this season:
1578 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta
404-875-1522
If you have never been to Smith's Olde Bar, your first Steelers game would be well served in this environment. Smith's is an Atlanta institution, not for sports club hosting but rather for the local and regional musical acts who play at night. The environment is relaxed and inviting to Steelers fans and Atlanta residents alike. On game day though, Smith's is a Steelers bar through and through. Sunday specials often include $2 Miller High Life — the right price in victory or defeat.
4355 Cobb Pkwy, Atlanta
770-850-8570
Any bar proud enough to post an "Official Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers" logo on their site is one proud enough to host Steelers fans. Laseter's a tavern in the traditional sense; a place to meet friends before or after games, after work or to bring an appetite. But its also a central meeting place for the true Steelers fan, looking to plug into the community of fans.
4500 W Village Place, Smyrna
678-370-9112
Steelers fans outside the city can look no further than McCray's Tavern in Smyrna for their black and gold peers each Sunday. Steelers games are usually played on a big projector in the back, meaning larger than life looks at Le'veon Bell and the rest of Steelers Nation in the unending march to the top.
It's kid-friendly American food, with a loud game day environment and great service on tap at McCray's. Parking can be limited at curb front, so park in the deck behind the restaurant. As an early season bonus, you can catch the Steelers game from the beauty of McCray's patio, which is nicer than a highlight reel of Antonio Brown's catches.
4190 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta
770-343-8228
Though the apostrophe in the name suggests a store proprietor named Pepperoni, this site may as well be owned by Steelers Nation each Sunday. The Alpharetta Sports Bar is the kind of place guys pony up to the bar for hours on end, waving towels and cheering for another Roethlisberger miracle.
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