News of Steelers' return to Saint Vincent given immaculate reception

Briana Tomack’s phone was ringing nonstop Wednesday during her workday as president of the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Many fellow Steelers fans were calling her to celebrate the good news that the NFL team will be back in town this summer. The Steelers announced they will be returning to hold their training camp at Saint Vincent College near Latrobe, after a pandemic-­driven two-year break in that tradition.

“Everybody is very excited that they have chosen to return this year,” Tomack said.

With fans flocking to see the players prepare for another season, “the economic impact is significant to our restaurants and retail spaces,” she said. “I think the excitement that this will generate will probably have us seeing bigger crowds than ever before.

“It will be a great year.”

The Steelers had held their camp at Saint Vincent for 54 consecutive years until the pandemic prompted a switch to Heinz Field for the past two seasons.

“For more than five decades, Saint Vincent College has proudly partnered with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we are glad to have them back on campus after a two-year hiatus,” said the Rev. Paul Taylor, president of the college in Unity. “It’s great for Saint Vincent and for the entire community. We look forward to their return this summer.”

Still to be determined are the training camp schedule and whether the Steelers will return for a night practice at Greater Latrobe School District’s Memorial Stadium — a pre-pandemic annual event that has attracted as many as 10,000 spectators and has raised money for community organizations and for district sports and student activities.

While acknowledging nothing has been confirmed regarding a practice at the stadium, Greater Latrobe Superintendent Mike Porembka said, “The Steelers have been great partners for many years. We would look forward to hosting them again.

“We’re happy to have the Steelers come back (for camp). It means so much to our community and the businesses in our community. It will be a great boost.”

Among those eagerly awaiting the return to Saint Vincent of the Black and Gold is die-hard fan George Muentzer of Hempfield. He is among a group of Steelers faithful who regularly show up before dawn on the first day of camp.

“We have about 20 people from all over that come early,” he said, noting the camp tradition has won him like-minded friends from as far away as Iowa. “I couldn’t be happier. We talk about the draft, the team’s weaknesses and strengths and the new players.

“It will be my 50th opening day. My spot is on the 50-yard line. You can’t ask for a better seat.”

Having the Steelers at Saint Vincent helps the bottom line at nearby Sharky’s Cafe.

“We expect a very significant increase in revenue for those weeks,” as much as a 45% boost, according to John Heiple, general manager of the restaurant.

“We’re really excited to get the fans, the media guys and the players back,” he said. “We have really good relations with them. We usually bring in a few extra servers and bartenders and a few extra people in the kitchen to make sure we are providing the best possible service for them.”

To get patrons primed for the Steelers’ arrival, Sharky’s is conducting a T-shirt contest where entrants are challenged to come up with a design that pays tribute to the team without infringing on logos or other elements that are copyrighted by the team or the NFL . Visit sharkyscafe.com by May 8 for details on entering.

Learning now that the Saint Vincent camp is coming back gives local retailers time to stock up on Steelers- and Latrobe-related merchandise to offer visiting fans, said Emily Pasqualino, a Latrobe resident and business owner who helps organize monthly downtown shopping promotions.

“They might be coming for the Steelers, but they also come into town to check out the shops,” she said of the fans. “There are going to be huge crowds, people from the area and from outside. We can prepare for it and show our hometown spirit.”