Buffalo v. Pittsburgh: What sets the two cities' culture apart?

Garret Roberts and Madison Scott, Beaver County Times
·3 min read

PITTSBURGH ― As football tensions between Pittsburgh and Buffalo continue to grow, fans in both cities are getting into heated rivalries ahead of Sunday's game.

As the Steelers and Bills prepare to settle who heads further into the playoffs on Jan. 14, fans from both cities are also arguing that their cities are the superior hometowns. The two cities, while similar in size, each have unique quirks that help inspire loyalty to the culture, sports teams, and more that make them special to their residents.

The main battle between the two cities will happen in Highmark Stadium, but they are already taking a few tongue-in-cheek jabs at their opposing city's culture. Several restaurants across the greater Pittsburgh region have stopped serving Buffalo sauce before the game, taking a stand against their opponents' iconic spicy export.

More on the rivalry: Buffalo sauce for McNuggets won't be sold at local McDonald's until after Steelers game

As the two football teams prepare to clash this weekend, what are some of the things that make their two cities unique?

How many people live there?

Pittsburgh: 300,431 (as of 2021)

Buffalo: 276,807 (as of 2021)

A view of the Pittsburgh skyline from the Three Rivers Trail, located along the city's North Shore area, on May 10, 2020.
A view of the Pittsburgh skyline from the Three Rivers Trail, located along the city's North Shore area, on May 10, 2020.

What is the regional slang?

Pittsburgh: "Yinz" or "Yunz" (a gender-neutral term for "you" in a plural context), "Jeet?" ("Did you eat?"), "N'at" ("and that"), "Wallyworld" ("Walmart"), "Buggy" ("shopping cart"), "Gum Band" ("rubber band"), "Nebby" ("nosy")

Buffalo: "The 90", "The 290 or "The 190" (terms to address the thruways), "Wings" or "Chicken Wings" (instead of Buffalo Wings), "Bison Dip" ("French Onion Dip), "Let's go, Buffalo!" (phrase Buffalonians use to greet or say goodbye), "Western New York" (rather than "Upstate New York), "Lake Effect Snow" (term used to describe the weather when cold air passes over the the Great Lakes), "The Scajaquada (New York State Route 198)

How much snow did the cities see during 2023?

Pittsburgh: 13.1 inches (second lowest on record)

Buffalo: 133.6 inches (fifth highest on record)

House Buffalo Wings at Food + Beer's Bradenton location (4808 14th St. W.) photographed July 18, 2023.
House Buffalo Wings at Food + Beer's Bradenton location (4808 14th St. W.) photographed July 18, 2023.

What are some popular regional foods?

Pittsburgh: Chipped ham, pierogies, fries on salad, pizza with cold toppings, burnt almond torte, the Big Mac, Turner's Tea, Sarris Candy, the Smiley Cookie, gobs, Heinz Ketchup, rye whiskey

Buffalo: Wings, pizza logs, Buffalo Style pizza, Beef on 'Weck, sponge candy, Loganberry, peanut stick doughnuts, chicken finger subs, stinger subs, Tim Horton's coffee, Frank's Red Hot Sauce, Bison Dip, Sahlen's Hot Dogs, Chiavetta's BBQ, Mighty Taco, spaghetti parmesan

Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium, first home of the Buffalo Bills. Movie producers selected War Memorial Stadium for the 1984 film "The Natural" because the place had the right look for an old-time ballpark.
Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium, first home of the Buffalo Bills. Movie producers selected War Memorial Stadium for the 1984 film "The Natural" because the place had the right look for an old-time ballpark.

What movies were filmed in the cities?

Pittsburgh: "The Dark Knight Rises," "Jack Reacher," "The Silence of the Lambs," "Inspector Gadget," "Night of the Living Dead," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," Striking Distance," "A Man Called Otto," "Gung Ho"

Buffalo: "The First Purge," "A Quiet Place Part II," "Buffalo '66," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," "Marshall," "The Best Man Holiday," "Sharknado 2: The Second One," "Battledogs," "The Natural," "Henry's Crime"

Donnie Iris pointing out fans at UPMC Events Center.
Donnie Iris pointing out fans at UPMC Events Center.

Who are some local celebrities?

Pittsburgh: Andy Warhol, Nellie Bly, Jeff Goldblum, Sharon Stone, Joe Manganiello, Julie Benz, Madison Ziegler, Michael Keaton, Christina Aguilera, Henry Mancini, Gillian Jacobs, Fred Rodgers, Billy Gardell, Mac Miller, George Romero, Donnie Iris, Abby Lee Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Mark Cuban

Echoed on screen: Spotting Beaver County: Help us find local landmarks getting surprise TV time

Buffalo: Chad Micheal Murray, Paul C. Vogt, Rob Gronkowski, Mark Twain, Rick James, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Christine Baranski, Jeffrey Jones, Kyle Chandler, Jeffrey DeMunn, Don Messick, Wendy Malick, Nancy Marchand, Jesse White, Brian McKnight, Sorrell Booke, David Boreanaz, Greg Oden

The roller coasters have an opening date at Kennywood Park.
The roller coasters have an opening date at Kennywood Park.

What are some popular places to visit?

Pittsburgh: Kennywood, The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Carnegie Science Center, Randyland, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Sen. John Heinz History Center, The National Aviary

Buffalo: Niagara Falls, Buffalo Canalside and RiverWorks, The Buffalo Zoo, Aquarium of Niagara, The Buffalo Museum of Science, Darwin D. Martin House, Elmwood Village, Albright Knox Art Gallery, Larkin Square, Lockport Locks, Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens, Shea's Performing Art's Center

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Pittsburgh and Buffalo cultural rivalry buzzing ahead of playoffs