NFL Provides Path for Steelers to Return to St. Vincent for Training Camp, League Approval Still Needed

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it clear that they want to return to the campus of St. Vincent College near Latrobe, Pennsylvania for their training camp in 2021.

In a memo released by the NFL to clubs on Friday, the league provided a framework for the Steelers to do just that, though the team will need league approval of a COVID-19 mitigation plan beforehand.

Here’s the full memo, which also clarifies that restrictions on gatherings away from the facility will be relaxed during the offseason, allowing vaccinated staff members to gather with other vaccinated staff members, and players with other players, but no mixing of the two. pic.twitter.com/8Mi9kpVSs9

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 7, 2021

Any team that wants to hold its training camp at a location other than its club facility or its home stadium must submit a full IDER (infectious disease emergency response) plan to the NFL by June 11 for approval.

The Steelers held their 2020 training camp at Heinz Field, after deciding that UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side, which the Steelers share with Pitt, was not large enough to accommodate a 90-man roster and permit social distancing.

In March, Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team plans to have training camp back at St. Vincent College this summer, with a potential for fans to attend practices as has been customary there.

“We are hoping things get back to normal this fall,” Rooney said. “Obviously, training camp happens a little earlier than that. It’s something we are planning for now, but we we’ll see how things go. We need this virus thing 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, things like that. We’ll be looking at all of those issues. But right now, for sure, our goal and our plan is to have training camp at Saint Vincent this summer.”

The Steelers had spent 54 straight seasons at St. Vincent, where the field is named for former Steelers coach Chuck Noll and Rooney Hall is one of the on-campus dormitories that the team typically stays in during its visit.