(Photo by Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Steelers president Art Rooney II told KDKA Radio this morning that he thinks the plan the team submitted to the state officials is a good one to keep fans safe while enjoying a game.
“We think we have a good plan and we’re anxious to get fans back in the building obviously," Rooney said. "I think our plan calls for around 12,000 fans socially distanced so that would be our starting point.”
Unlike other parts of the country, the Pittsburgh region hasn't seen an uprise in COVID-19 cases recently.
"The good news is that we’re not having a major virus spike in our region and our people in western Pennsylvania I think have done a great job staying safe and following the protocols and we’re not seeing what they’ve seen in other parts of the country, Rooney said."
While no fans are allowed at Heinz Field for Steelers games currently, patrons are allowed across the street at Rivers Casino which baffles Rooney.
“Of course the casino down the street from us is open for a few thousand people a day, so it’s getting harder to explain to our fans why that’s happening and we’re still at zero,” Rooney said.
Rooney is frustrated with the Pennslyvania Department of Health not acting quicker in giving approval for fans to attend games at Heinz Field.
“I think frustrated is probably the right word," Rooney said. "As we said I think we’ve been patient, I think we’ve been cooperating and we plan to continue to cooperate and work with the guidelines that we are given, but as I said before it is starting to get to be hard to explain to our fans in comparison to other things that you’re allowed to do now."
Rooney said some sort of lottery system would be used to select which season ticket holders would be allowed the opportunity to attend games.
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