Pittsburgh, Tampa have 'Bridge Challenge' on Twitter

Cities' official accounts trade barbs ahead of Eastern Conference Final

By Pat Pickens @Pat_Pickens / NHL.com Staff Writer

May 12, 2016

The Eastern Conference Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning begins Friday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports), but the trash talk between the cities has already begun.
Players will try to keep from uttering bulletin-board material, but the Twitter accounts of Tampa and Pittsburgh traded barbs Thursday morning.

Blue lights? Nice touch. We see your bridges & raise you... a duck. #BlackandGold #EverydayIsGameDay pic.twitter.com/X1mnCvCBz2
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 12, 2016

The City of Tampa lit the fuse, mocking Pittsburgh's chilly weather:

As cold as it is in @CityPGH right now, the @penguins are going to be @CityofTampa fans too! 😎🌴☀️ #GoBolts ⚡️vs🐧 https://t.co/HpWl2STUhx
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) May 12, 2016

Pittsburgh initially took the high road, posting this stunning photo of its downtown at dawn:

You are mistaken, @CityofTampa. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Photo: @DaveDiCello Let's Go @penguins! pic.twitter.com/GD7JXD8pPI
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 12, 2016

Tampa responded by posting this of their Bolts Bridge:

Y'all have a beautiful city, @CityPGH. But have you seen our #BoltsBlue bridges? 😜💙⚡️ #BeTheThunder pic.twitter.com/ivkRBKPKcF
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) May 12, 2016

Pittsburgh, affectionately known as the "City of Bridges," wasn't impressed:

The City of Bridges has just been invited to a Bridge Challenge. https://t.co/tmksrOwjeu
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 12, 2016

Blue lights? Nice touch. We see your bridges & raise you... a duck. #BlackandGold #EverydayIsGameDay pic.twitter.com/X1mnCvCBz2
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 12, 2016

The city's official photographer also took Tampa to task for its lacking depth in bridge knowledge:

@penguins @VisitTampaBay @TBLightning you want bridges? We have bridges. pic.twitter.com/VTEJxyGPnB
— Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) May 12, 2016

Tampa used this moment to promote its Pirate Water Taxi service:

That duck is cute, @CityPGH. We don't have a duck, but we do have @Pirates patrolling our waters! #WeArghReady 💙⚡️ pic.twitter.com/uGb4Y7nA4r
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) May 12, 2016

At this point, others started to take notice, including Visit Tampa Bay, the region's official tourism board, and began to weigh in:

That duck is cute, @CityPGH. We don't have a duck, but we do have @Pirates patrolling our waters! #WeArghReady 💙⚡️ pic.twitter.com/uGb4Y7nA4r
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) May 12, 2016

Naturally, Pittsburgh's tourism board got the final word in on the matter:

That's a cute little overpass....these are bridges!! @CityPGH pic.twitter.com/3laRDXeZn1
— Visit Pittsburgh (@vstpgh) May 12, 2016

Pittsburgh, Tampa have 'Bridge Challenge' on Twitter

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