Steelers News: The Steelers organization could lose more than $150 million if no fans in 2020

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL Draft is officially over. After finishing last year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, have another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers could lose some serious cash if the NFL deems no fans can attend games in 2020.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers organization want fans in seats in 2020. Why? Because without those ticket sales the team will be out some major cash.

Forbes: Steelers to lose more than $156 million in stadium revenue if there are no fans

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribuen-Review

As sports leagues around the world stage events without fans, the clock is ticking on the scheduled start of the NFL’s 2020 season. And if the coronavirus pandemic dictates empty stadiums in the fall, that would put a significant dent in team revenues.

According to Forbes.com, the NFL would lose more than $5.5 billion in revenue if games are played without spectators. The financial magazine reported that figure is what teams grossed from tickets, concessions, sponsors, parking and team stores during the 2018 season. That number surely would have been higher in 2020, particularly because three teams are scheduled to move into new stadiums.

According to Forbes, 38% of the NFL’s revenue comes from stadiums. That is a significant figure, but it also reinforces why playing in front of no fans (but on television) is still highly profitable.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• See what teammates, and fans, are saying about Ben Roethlisberger’s return.

Teammates, fans react to Big Ben’s beard trim

By: Hunter Homistek, DKPittsburghSports

Ben Roethlisberger crushed it with this announcement.

Randomly, at 12:58 p.m. ET on a Monday, Roethlisberger dropped a bomb on Steeler Nation:

Props on all this. The timing of it. The execution, starting with a clean-shaven shot then progressing through some throws to JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Ryan Switzer.

And, of course, including the trim itself.

With this, Roethlisberger stamped the fact that he’s making a full recovery … and his teammates — past and present — and fans were hyped, starting with Cam Heyward and Mike Hilton:

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• There is a new addition to the Rooney Rule.

NFL making changes to expand Rooney Rule

By: The Associated Press

The NFL is amending the Rooney Rule to require more interviews of minority candidates for head coaching and coordinator positions, two people familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.

Reacting to a lack of diversity progress in hirings for those jobs, the league will require teams to interview at least two minority candidates from outside the organization for head coach openings. At least one minority candidate must be interviewed for a coordinator’s spot, the people said Monday on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced the additions.

The rule, named after late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, was adopted in 2003. It has had some impact, but in the recent spate of coach hirings, few positions have gone to minority candidates.

During a Super Bowl week news conference, commissioner Roger Goodell admitted changes were needed to the rule. Those changes are coming.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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