You're driving down the Parkway East, the Squirrel Hill Tunnel traffic is backing up as usual, and you reach for the dial to hear the latest meltdown about the Steelers' offensive line. You’re looking for 97.3 The Fan Pittsburgh. But here is the thing: if you're actually tuning your FM radio to 97.3 in the Steel City, you might be met with a lot of static or something that definitely isn't sports talk.
There is a massive amount of confusion floating around the dial.
People get the numbers mixed up constantly. In the world of Pittsburgh sports media, the king of the mountain is 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM). Yet, every single day, hundreds of fans search for "97.3 The Fan Pittsburgh" because our brains just love to transpose numbers when we're frustrated with a Mike Tomlin press conference. If you are looking for the station that carries the Pirates, the Panthers, and the most heated sports debates in Western Pennsylvania, you are actually looking for 93.7.
Let's clear the air.
The Frequency Mix-up and Why it Happens
It’s an easy mistake. Honestly, the "7" and the "3" just dance around in your head. But while 97.3 might be a dead zone or a low-power signal depending on where you're standing in Allegheny County, 93.7 is the signal that actually pumps out the signal from the Audacy-owned studios.
Pittsburgh is a legacy radio town. We grew up on KDKA. We grew up on the idea that the radio is where the "real" news happens before it hits the papers or the evening broadcast. When KDKA-FM launched The Fan back in 2010, it flipped the script on local sports. Before that, you had to hunt for sports talk on AM signals that faded out the moment you drove under a bridge. Now, it’s high-def, crystal clear, and usually involves someone yelling about a backup quarterback.
The Power of Local Voice
What makes this specific brand of radio work—regardless of which numbers you punch into the dashboard—is the sheer "Pittsburgh-ness" of it all. You’ve got guys like Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller in the afternoons. Love them or hate them (and in this city, there isn't much middle ground), they drive the conversation. They aren't just reading stats. They're arguing with Joe from Morningside about whether the Penguins should trade their first-round pick for a veteran defenseman.
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It’s visceral.
The station serves as the flagship for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pitt Panthers. When you hear the crack of the bat or the roar of the crowd at Acrisure Stadium, it’s usually coming through those Audacy airwaves. If you are mistakenly searching for 97.3 The Fan Pittsburgh, you are likely trying to find that specific connection to the heartbeat of the city’s sports scene.
What You’ll Actually Hear When You Find the Right Signal
The lineup is the backbone of the station’s identity. It starts early. The morning show usually sets the "outrage" level for the day. If the Steelers lost on Sunday, Monday morning is basically a city-wide therapy session.
- Morning Drive: Usually high energy, heavy on the "big picture" topics.
- Mid-days: Often more analytical, focusing on the nuances of the game.
- The PM Drive: This is where the sparks fly. This is the slot where the biggest personalities live.
It’s not just about the hosts, though. It’s the callers. Pittsburgh callers are a different breed. They have memories like elephants. They remember a blown coverage from 1994 and they will use it to justify why the current defensive coordinator needs to be fired. That’s the magic of local sports radio. It’s a community. It’s a messy, loud, passionate, and sometimes irrational community.
The Digital Shift
You don't even need a radio anymore. Most people are "tuning in" via the Audacy app or smart speakers. This is probably where the 97.3 The Fan Pittsburgh typo comes from—typing it into a search bar or a voice command.
Technology has changed how we consume the "Fan," but it hasn't changed the content. You can catch the podcasts of the shows if you missed the live segment where a host hung up on a particularly stubborn listener.
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Navigating the Competition
While The Fan is the big dog in terms of dedicated FM sports talk, it isn't the only game in town. You’ve got 105.9 The X, where Mark Madden—the "Super Genius"—has ruled the afternoon airwaves for decades. Madden’s style is completely different. It’s bombastic, heel-persona driven, and deeply rooted in hockey.
Then you have the legacy of ESPN Pittsburgh on 970 AM and 104.7 FM.
The "Fan" (the one people mistakenly call 97.3) occupies a specific niche. It’s the "official" voice. It has the direct tie-ins with the teams. When the Pirates have an announcement, it happens here. When Pitt has a coaching change, the athletic director is on these microphones. That level of access is why the station stays at the top of the ratings despite the rise of national podcasts and social media.
The "97.3" Ghost
Is there anything actually at 97.3? In some regions near Pittsburgh, you might pick up a translator signal or a distant station from a neighboring county. But for the sports fan, it’s a phantom. It’s a digital ghost. If you find yourself staring at your screen wondering why the stream won't load or why the radio is playing country music or 80s hits, check your numbers.
You want 93.7.
Why We Care So Much
Why does a radio station frequency even matter in 2026? Because sports in Pittsburgh aren't a hobby. They are a civic identity. When the Steelers are bad, the mood in the grocery store is noticeably grumpier. When the Pirates are on a winning streak (it happens!), the city feels lighter.
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The Fan provides the soundtrack to that emotional rollercoaster.
It’s about the "hot take." We live in an era where everyone has an opinion, but the radio gives those opinions a platform that feels official. It’s the modern-day town square.
Actionable Steps for the Pittsburgh Sports Fan
If you've been searching for 97.3 The Fan Pittsburgh and coming up empty, here is how you actually get your fix of local sports talk without the frustration of the wrong frequency.
First, fix your presets. Program 93.7 FM into your car's first slot. If you're a digital listener, download the Audacy app and search for "93.7 The Fan." Don't just rely on the live broadcast; the "rewind" feature on the app is actually incredibly useful for catching the specific interviews with coaches or players that usually happen in the mid-afternoon.
Second, follow the individual hosts on X (formerly Twitter). Most of the "real" debate happens there in the hours between shows. That’s where you’ll get the breaking news alerts before they even hit the airwaves.
Third, if you want to call in, save the studio line: 412-333-9370. Just be prepared. If you're going to bring a take, you better have the stats to back it up, or Fillipponi will let you have it.
Finally, stop searching for 97.3. It’s a dead end. The real conversation, the real heat, and the real Pittsburgh sports coverage is just a few clicks down the dial at 93.7.
Keep your eyes on the road and your ears on the right station. The Parkway isn't getting any faster, but the sports talk can at least make the commute bearable.