Steelers, Pens Guide Pittsburgh To More 'City Of Champion' Awards

With the Super Bowl-winning Steelers and Stanley Cup-winning Penguins, Pittsburgh has been recognized yet again with several awards from SportsTravel Magazine.

The magazine recognized both the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Penguins as the "Best Professional Sports Events Series" and the Super Bowl XLIII matchup between Pittsburgh and the Arizona Cardinals as the "Best Professional Single-Sport Event" in 2009.

The awards were announced last month at the Travel, Events, and Management in Sports conference in New Orleans.

The winners were nominated and voted upon by readers, the magazine said.

"Pittsburgh is a city whose name is synonymous with great teams, great sports and great hospitality," said Joe McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh. "And we're delighted -- but not at all surprised -- that the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals and the Super Bowl were recognized by event organizers in the sports industry."

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise and Sun Valley, Idaho, won the top prize as "Sports Event of the Year."

In another big win for Pittsburgh, the city last month was recognized as No. 1 in Sporting News' 16th annual Best Sports Cities rankings, beating out 398 other towns in the United States and Canada.

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