Although the Super Bowl is being held in Florida, the creative people at the city’s tourism bureau VisitPittsburgh are using the Steelers quest for championship number six to attract tourists into town for Super Bowl weekend.

“No need for members of Steelers Nation to cry in their beer because they don’t have tickets to the Big Game. Thanks to special hotel getaway packages, Pittsburgh’s got its own game going on,” said Joe McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh. “Outside of Tampa, there’s simply no better place to be for Steelers’ fans than Pittsburgh during the Super Bowl.”

Hotel packages are available January 26-February 1, and they include a $10 GetGo card for every hotel night book, and an official Terrible Towel for each room. As I suspected, this package is directed at regional Steeler fans, “We know that Steelers fans are the most devoted fans in the country. We’ve already heard from people in Ohio and West Virginia who want to be where the action is to watch the Steelers play in the Super Bowl and that’s in Pittsburgh,” said Mr. McGrath. “It’s all about the Pittsburgh experience.”

I think this is some great marketing. Pittsburgh is a great city. Visitors can check out the Andy Warhol Museum, one of the best zoos in the country, Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center, and if you are lucky enough to get tickets, you can see Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. My small list above doesn’t do the city justice. The atmosphere is absolutely electric in the city during Super Bowl week. It must be experienced to be believed.

Only the Steelers and the Super Bowl could convince anyone who is living in a warm weather climate to come to Pittsburgh in the middle of this deep freeze which we have been experiencing for the past few weeks. Politically speaking, I am shocked don’t do this kind of thing. It is an easy way to boost the economy over what is a very slow time of year. Not all fan bases are as rabid as Steeler fans, but is such a simple ideas that even if it only attracts a few visitors will be considered a success. Plus, coming to Pittsburgh and hanging out with authentic blue collar fans, is not only cheaper, but probably more fun than Tampa. We all know that Steelers weather isn’t warmth and sun.

Yes, I know. I intentionally used the image of Steely McBeam the world’s most hated mascot. Pittsburgh isn’t big on mascots and cheerleaders, and poor Steely is mocked and reviled at all times.