At least 12 Steelers training camp practices at Heinz Field to be open to public

Turns out, Steelers Nation will be able to take in training camp after all. Just about 50 miles farther west than usual.

At least a dozen Pittsburgh Steelers preseason practices between July 28 and Aug. 18 will be open to the public at Heinz Field. Tickets are free but must be reserved, according to a Thursday Steelers-released statement of its camp schedule.

This is the second consecutive year training camp will be conducted at Heinz Field after 54 consecutive camps were staged at Saint Vincent College in Unity Township. Last year’s, though, was closed to the public out of concerns related to covid-19.

As required while the coronavirus pandemic lingers, the Steelers had submitted a plan to the NFL and its union to hold its camp at Saint Vincent again in 2021. But that plan was not approved.

Typically in recent years, the Steelers had moved one camp practice back from Westmoreland County to Heinz Field and made it open to the public. This year, with no sessions at Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent, the Steelers elected to make the majority of their camp sessions open to the public.

The only Heinz Field practices not open are ones on a day that precedes a preseason game (Aug. 4 and Aug. 11) and a session the day camp breaks Aug. 19. The team additionally has not determined plans for its July 30 practice.

The first 10 practices announced as open to the public will begin 1:30 p.m. All will feature open concession stands and the team pro shop in the stadium.

By rule in the league/NFLPA collective bargaining agreement, the Steelers are permitted to open camp July 22. The Steelers will practice at their UPMC Rooney Sports Complex facility on the South Side for a week before moving across town to Heinz Field. The South Side practices are not open to the public.

Tickets to the Heinz Field practice sessions are available via Ticketmaster beginning 10 a.m. Friday for season ticket holders and 10 a.m. Saturday for the general public. All seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

The practice schedule released Thursday by the Steelers:

July 28, 1:30 p.m.

July 29, 1:30 p.m.

July 30, to be determined

July 31, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 2, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 3, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 4, practice not open to public

Aug. 5 Hall of Fame Game vs. Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio

Aug. 7, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 8, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 9, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 10, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 11, practice not open to public

Aug. 12, preseason game at Philadelphia Eagles

Aug. 14, 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 15, practice not open to public

Aug. 17, 12:15 p.m.

Aug. 18, noon

Aug. 19, practice not open to public

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