(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
With vaccines being distributed regularly to people, things look to be on the upswing in regards to the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts believe that the United States can return to "normal" by this fall or winter.
Team president Art Rooney II had a conference call on Steelers Nation Unite today and was asked whether fans will be allowed at Heinz Field in full capacity this season. While it's only March, Rooney is optimistic that Steeler Nation will be allowed at Heinz Field like usual in 2021.
"I am kind of optimistic about it," Rooney said. "It's still early, it's only March, so we'll see how things go. I am optimistic we will have fans. Frankly I am optimistic we will have a full stadium by this fall. Hopefully everybody is out there getting the vaccine and is going to be able to get in crowds and things like that again. Hopefully we are going to be back to pretty close to normal by the fall. Let's all say our prayers and keep our fingers crossed. But I am optimistic about it at this point."
The Steelers hosted just three games in 2020 with fans and the limit was 7,500 total in the stadium. Rooney also sees the Steelers hosting training camp at Saint Vincent college this summer, which didn't happen last year for the first time since 1965 because of the pandemic.
"That is the plan," Rooney said of a return to Saint Vincent College. "We are hoping things get back to normal this fall. Obviously training camp happens a little earlier than that. It's something we are planning for now, but we will see how things go. We need this virus to turn the corner. We still want to make sure that fans are safe when they come to Saint Vincent. We may have to look at if we have to limit the number of fans. We'll be looking at all of those issues. Right now our goal and our plan is to have training camp at Saint Vincent this summer."