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The Pittsburgh Steelers were forced to have their 2020 training camp at Heinz Field, not their usual location of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. The NFL told teams they were not allowed to leave their home facilities for camp, this during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here we are, wrapping up mandatory minicamp, and many want to know if the Steelers will be back on campus, and practicing on Chuck Noll field this summer. The answer? They still don’t know.
Mike Tomlin was asked about this very topic after the final day of minicamp, and although he had hoped to know, he stated the Steelers have yet to receive final word on the return to Latrobe.
This per Brooke Pryor of ESPN:
Mike Tomlin says they haven't received final word or details about training camp (Heinz Field vs. returning to St. Vincent):
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) June 17, 2021
"I thought I would know by now. We don't always get what we want, as we know. I had hoped to get some clarity prior to know, but I haven't."
It is important to understand the circumstances the Steelers face heading into training camp. For instance, the date which they report is up in the air. This from Dave Schofield’s recent countdown article:
Although the Steelers have not officially announced the start date of training camp, the date they are permitted to begin has been set by the NFL. With the Steelers set to play in the Hall of Fame Game, the fist day of training camp will be earlier than the rest of the NFL who are set to begin on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The Steelers, as well as the Dallas Cowboys, can start as early as July 21, 2021 while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will face the Cowboys on the opening night of the NFL season, can start July 24, 2021.
Other teams have notified their fans of them being able to travel away from their home facilities, so it might just be a formality the Steelers haven’t heard yet. It also could involve the local/state government and restrictions whether or not they are permitted to have fans in attendance at practices. Team President Art Rooney II has stated if the team can’t have fans at camp practices, they would probably stay in Pittsburgh.
Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp and the 2021 regular season.
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