PITTSBURGH — There are few people more iconic to the Pittsburgh area than Fred Rogers, most famous for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which was filmed at the local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station WQED for the first time 50 years ago. The celebrate the occasion, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will be hosting Mister Rogers night this Saturday at Highmark Stadium when the team takes on New York Red Bulls II (7 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+).

“With the documentary having just been released another movie being recently announced, this is a great time to celebrate someone who has influenced nearly every single person who will be at the stadium,” said Steel Army supporters group member Joe Magarac. “Fred Rogers is still a very visible and cherished figure in the area’s history, so it won’t be a nostalgia trip, as the show and the man are always on display in some way, but rather an honest celebration of his legacy. I can’t imagine anyone in our group has not grown up watching Fred or having a story of personally meeting the man.”

This won’t be the first time that Steel Army will be celebrating Rogers as a group, having previously had some fun outside of the stadium at another local event.

“Last summer, members of the Steel Army entered a Mister Rogers Neighborhood themed aircraft into the Flugtag, so some of those costumes and headpieces will be pulled out of the closet and put back on,” said Magarac. “Cardigan sweaters will be in abundance as well, we’re sure.”

The event forms part of the team’s partnership with WQED this season, leading to a big celebration that has a big crowd expected for Saturday night. More than just paying tribute to a legendary broadcaster, the match will present an opportunity for fans to pay tribute to Rogers.

“We’re doing a Mister Rogers look-a-like contest at the game, the best dressed will win a prize pack from WQED and from us,” said Jordan Kay, Director of Marketing for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. “There’s going to be a Mister Rogers theme song sing-along with the crowd after the game, we’ll also be playing what WQED calls ‘sweater sessions’ where they have local musical artists come in and do their version of the theme song.”

Often times the supporters groups aren’t involved with these events, leaving that to the team and creating their own atmosphere another way. But that is not the case with this match with the Steel Army excited to be part of what is sure to be a special night.

“We’re really excited about the Mr. Rogers Night. We’ve mocked many of the theme nights in the past, but having this night with WQED being involved makes this special,” said Magarac. “We can be quite cynical about a lot of things, but there will be nothing but genuine affection for the man on Saturday night.”