Pittsburgh is a sports town. From our professional teams in black and gold to college athletes to weekend warriors, you're sure to find a reason to cheer.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette
	Heinz Field is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is seen here breaking away from New England's Mike Vrabel. The city's other North Shore sports venue is the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the acclaimed PNC Park.

PROFESSIONAL
Pittsburgh Penguins, 412-323-1919 (Ticketmaster), www.ticketmaster.com or www.pittsburghpenguins.com. Professional NHL hockey team. Tickets also at Mellon Arena box office (Gate One), 66 Mario Lemieux Place, Uptown.

Pittsburgh Pirates, 800-289-2827 or 877-893-2827, www.pittsburghpirates. com. Professional Major League Baseball team in the National League. Tickets also at PNC Park ticket windows, corner of West General Robinson and Federal streets, North Shore.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 724-250-9555, www.riverhounds.com. Professional soccer team in the United Soccer League's Pro Soccer League that plays at Falconi Field, Washington, Pa., with schedule that includes 10 home games between May and July.

Pittsburgh Steelers, 412-323-1200, www.steelers.com. Professional NFL football team. There is a long waiting list for season tickets. Ticket requests must be made in writing to: Pittsburgh Steelers, Box 6763, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

MINOR LEAGUE
Altoona Curve, 814-943-5400 or 877-992-8783, www.altoonacurve.com. Baseball Class AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Washington Wild Things, 866-456-9453, www.washingtonwildthings.com. Baseball team in the independent Frontier League.

COLLEGE
Carnegie Mellon University, 412-268-3087, www.cmu.edu. The Tartans sponsor 17 intercollegiate teams in the Division III University Athletic Association.

Duquesne University, 412-232-3853, www.goduquesne.com. The Dukes sport 10 men's and nine women's varsity programs, highlighted by men's and women's basketball games at the on-campus A.J. Palumbo Center.

Geneva College, 724-847-6886, www.geneva.edu. Geneva sponsors 13 varsity sports, with the Golden Tornadoes competing in the American Mideast Conference of the NAIA.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 724-357-2747, www.iup.edu. IUP competes in the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, fielding seven men's and 10 women's teams.

Point Park University, 412-391-4100, www.pointpark.edu. Point Park sponsors four men's and five women's teams competing in the American Mideast Conference of the NAIA.

Robert Morris University, 412-299-2403, www.rmu.edu. The Colonials sponsor nine men's and 12 women's varsity teams. NCAA Division I basketball games at the on-campus Sewall Center and Division I-AA football games at the new Joe Walton Stadium, scheduled to open this season.

St. Vincent College, 724-532-6600, www.stvincent.edu. The Bearcats athletic department features 10 programs that compete in the NAIA.

Seton Hill University, 800-826-6234, www.setonhill.edu. The Griffins have 18 sports, which compete in the NAIA's American Mideast Conference.

Slippery Rock University, 724-738-9000, www.sru.edu. 11 men's and 10 women's teams highlight the Division II school, which is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

University of Pittsburgh, 800-643-7488, www.pittsburghpanthers.com. Pitt fields eight men's and nine women's varsity programs. Highlights are the Panthers' men's and women's basketball teams, which compete at the on-campus Petersen Events Center, and football, which is played at Heinz Field.

Washington and Jefferson College, 888-926-3529, www.washjeff.edu. Located south of Pittsburgh in Washington, the college sponsors 12 men's and 11 women's teams, which battle in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

CAR RACING
Jennerstown Speedway, 814-629-6677, www.jennerstown.com. At the intersection of Routes 30 and 985 in the Laurel Mountains, the .522-mile asphalt oval has NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing each Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. from May to September.

Motordrome, 724-872-7555, www.motordrome.com. Located in Smithton, the 1.5-mile asphalt track features NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series action every Friday night at 7:30 from April to September.

Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, 724-853-7223, www.ppms.com. Late models, E-Mods and amateur stocks run on the half-mile track located off Route 22 at the Noblestown exit on Saturday night at 7 p.m. from April through September.

Pittsburgh Raceway Park, 724-668-7600, wwwpittsburghracewaypark.com. Located in New Alexandria off Route 22, the quarter-mile drag-racing strip is open April through November.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, 412-471-7847, www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com. July 16-17, 2005, at Schenley Park in Oakland, the annual PVGP will feature vintage car racing around the park's oval. Race week activities take place July 9-17.

DOG RACING
Wheeling Downs, 877-946-4373, www.wheelingdowns.com. In Wheeling W.Va., the facility offers live greyhound racing, slots and off-track betting.

HORSE RACING
The Meadows, 412-563-1224, www.themeadowsracing.com. South of Pittsburgh just off Interstate 79, The Meadows offers year-round harness racing and free admission to its glass-enclosed grandstand. XpressBet is also available along with simulcast racing. The Meadows also owns off-track betting locations in Harmar (412-828-0610), Moon (412-262-3100), New Castle (724-654-2221) and West Mifflin (412-650-9000).

Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort, 1-800-804-0468, www.mtrgaming.com. The resort and hotel complex in Chester, W.Va. features live and simulcast thoroughbred and greyhound racing, a convention center, 18-hole golf course, fitness center and spa. The facility also boasts 3,200 video slot machines.

For up-to-date information, log on to www.post-gazette.com/sports.