The Steelers announced last week they won't have fans at Heinz Field for at least the first month of the 2020 season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond that, they're hopeful they will have them in the stands at some point.
Art Rooney II said Thursday that negotiations are ongoing with state and local officials to try to get at least some fans into home games this season.
When that might happen, however, is anyone's guess.
"There are a lot of people in the mix as far as making sure the lines of communication stay open," Rooney said Thursday. "Really, it just gets down to when is everybody going to agree that it’s going to be safe for people to come to the stadium, even in a reduced capacity. We’ll keep the door open. We’ll keep working on it. We’re trying to stay optimistic that there will be a point where everybody will be comfortable with our plans, but it’s hard to predict for certain in this environment.
"It comes down to, that’s what we’re here for, for our fans. We’ll play the games without fans, but it just won’t feel right and we’ll have to adjust, and I’m sure the players will adjust, but there’s no doubt it won’t feel right playing without fans in the stadium. That’s kind of the whole point of things. We’re playing these games for our fans and trying to win another championship for the city of Pittsburgh. It will be a different journey this year. We’re trying to adjust and make the best of it."
Currently, only six NFL teams are going to permit at least some fans into stadiums to start the season. A number of teams, including the Steelers, announced they could have at least some fans after the opening month of the season.
Fans or not, Rooney is feeling pretty good about his team. The Steelers return most of their starters from 2019. Most important, they return Ben Roethlisberger, who missed most of last season with three torn flexor tendons in his throwing elbow. The Steelers weren't permitted to hold training camp at Saint Vincent College this year as they had done every season before since 1966. Instead, camp, which officially ends Friday, was held at Heinz Field.
The Steelers got what they needed out of this camp in terms of the No. 1 issue surrounding the team. They got to see what Roethlisberger looks like in his return.
"One thing we know now that we didn’t know in May and really until we got into training camp was what level of strength would Ben have in his arm?" Rooney said. "I think we’re now comfortable now having watched him in training camp for a number of weeks, his arm strength may be better than it was last year. Certainly, it’s a Ben-level arm strength. We’re happy with that.
"It would have been nice to have a little more time for him to work with the receivers and offense that he’s going into this season with. I think every team is going into this season in a different place than we’ve started at in previous seasons. What that’s going to mean on the field, I don’t think anyone knows, but certainly what we’ve seen from Ben so far is very encouraging."
It has Rooney and the Steelers with high hopes for the season, which they will kick off Sept. 14 against the Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers are coming off an 8-8 season after playing all but six quarters without their starting quarterback last season. But the defense rounded into one of the best units in the league. And Rooney feels the Steelers' continuity in terms of returning players and coaches will be a benefit in 2020.
"I feel good about this team. I feel good about our roster," Rooney said. "More than anything, I really feel good about the attitude this team came into training camp with. It’s such an unusual year and not having had the opportunity for guys to get together in the spring, particularly some of the younger guys, I just like the attitude of the team and the work ethic that they’ve had, the business-like approach. It’s been a good camp from that standpoint. Hopefully, that carries into the regular season and serves as a good foundation for us.
"We’ve got, obviously starting with coach Mike Tomlin, someone who has been here a long time and knows the ropes. He’s no stranger to encountering different scenarios, maybe not this particular one. But he’s never afraid of a different challenge, a new challenge. I think we have most of our coaching staff back and we don’t have much turnover in our starting positions. Hopefully, all of that bodes well for us as we head into the season."