The parking lot in pictures.

Written by Dan Gigler on Thursday, 13 August 2009 7:37 pm.

Scenes from around Heinz Field on a postcard perfect Pittsburgh preseason evening ...

You might recognize the man in the middle here as Giovanni Poggi, who was featured in a May 17th PG article about his Steeler bar in Rome, La Botticella. Poggi is vacationing in Pittsburgh, visiting his legions of friends and fans, and naturally made a pilgrimage to Heinz Field. He's with a group of friends wearing T-shirts from his bar that read: "Veni Lusi Vici: I came I saw I conquered" with the Roman numerals from the Steelers six Super Bowls below it.

The backs of the shirts read: "Nazione Degli Steelers" which means literally, the "Nation of the Steelers" or less formally -- "Steelers Nation."

Giovanni wasn't the only Italian Steelers fan around ...

The Italian meets the "mafia": Giovanni with Duane Smyth, left, of Mars, Pa. Smyth is a director of the international Steel City Mafia Steelers fan club. Several dozen SCM members from as far and wide as California, Utah, Louisiana and Mississippi attended last night's game.

Best throwback jersey ever. The owner is "Boss Ironhead" of the Dayton, Ohio, chapter of the SCM.

On the left is Jason & Allyson Ashment of the Salt Like City chapter of the SCM; at right is Kurt Emmert of the Indianapolis chapter.

Truck of the night. Back and ...

...front. Its owned by Tim Schwartz of the Louisiana chapter of the SCM.

Of the many things that give Heinz Field great gameday atmosphere, one in particular are the presence of the "boatgaters" who dock on the North Shore Riverfront Park. Each season, the "Terrible Flotilla" or "Steelers Navy" seems to grow. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only professional football stadium in the country where its even possible. Maybe in Cleveland, but they don't have a pro team ... oh wait ...