Hell yeah! I was wearing a Sabres hat at the rioting in Oakland (Pittsburgh) and some guy from Buffalo saw it... we basically both said what you just said.
Yeah, the younger crowd is really into the Penguins, which is good for hockey, but there is no way the people in Pittsburgh (as a whole) are more Pens fans than Steelers fans.
I've been here five years, the first two of which I don't think I heard the words "Penguins" or "hockey" spoken. (Then they start winning.... very bandwagony.... )
Their football fans are quite similar to ours. They're pretty diehard. There are a lot of them. They hate the *pats.
Football at the youth, high school, and college levels is pretty big here, while hockey is not at all (yet; hopefully the Pens can provide a spark in this area.) In contrast, WNY is pretty big on hockey at the youth hockey (at least in Rochester where I am from), and I think more of a percentage of fans are likely to say the Sabres are their favorite (instead of Bills) than the percentage Pittsburghers saying the Pens are their favorite (instead of Steelers).
Haha this is so true! Even though everyone just bitches about them! It's a pretty slick logo/hat, I'll admit.