Tim Benz: Steelers training camp at Heinz Field may not be as bad as some thought

When I first heard that the Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to hold training camp at Heinz Field, I had the same reaction many of you did.

“Oh, this stinks for the Steelers! Let ’em practice on the South Side. The concerns over social distancing in the locker room are stupid. They are just gonna be banging into each other on the practice field all day anyway!”

I agree with … well … all of that.

But after doing some digging, organizationally, the Steelers may not be as bent out of shape about practicing at Heinz Field instead of the familiar confines of the UPMC Rooney Complex as I originally assumed.

From what I’ve been told, it’s not as though the franchise feels as if it is being strong-armed over to the North Shore.

Now, keep in mind, I’m not speaking about the coaches specifically. My guess is they’d prefer to have the space of two or three available fields outside — depending on conflicts with Pitt. Not to mention the indoor facility across the parking lot.

Also, the use of their everyday offices from September to June every year may feel more natural.

Logistically, however, there are a few complications that come into play that may make Heinz Field more accommodating for camp than the South Side.

• The locker room issue is a big deal, even aside from anal-retentive, detail-heavy league mandates over covid-19.

After they break training camp, the Steelers always install temporary lockers in the middle of the room to accommodate all 90 players on the roster until cuts happen. The locker room space on Water Street isn’t large enough to satisfy protocols requiring players to maintain 6 feet of social distancing. The team would have to use every other locker or erect additional lockers.

And that’s always very compact for about 10 days. For six or seven weeks, it’d be even worse.

Via our Joe Rutter: “Heinz Field has four locker rooms between 2,600-4,600 square feet. That is more than enough room for the Steelers to use as a training camp dressing facility.”

• From what I’ve been able to gather, food service is also a concern. The Steelers South Side cafeteria could probably handle an expanded roster and additional coaches and scouts. But maybe not all at once and perhaps not every day. And not with social distancing being a concern on that front, too.

Heinz Field’s large banquet facilities and club space can more easily handle that load.

• The club and suite levels may also allow for more room in terms of full-group and positional meetings and film sessions under the new restrictions.

• Four locker rooms mean four areas to shower. Yes, more spaces to keep clean. But also not as likely for a more widespread infection than if 90 players were using one space to wash up.

• Even though the Pitt players and the Steelers hardly cross paths anymore, that was a planning factor, too. Not just on days when all three fields may be in use. But if the league, state, city or county wanted to be persnickety about it, technically, the two separate headquarters are in the “same” building. And that would be way more than 250 people under one roof.

So, why have that battle if you don’t need to have it?

• And — in a best-case scenario — if coronavirus numbers stay low by August, perhaps fans could be allowed to watch practices in limited numbers. That option isn’t available in any form on the South Side.

A team spokesperson says no determination has been made in that regard as of yet.

But, if the prospect exists, I’m sure the Steelers would like to do it since they so dearly held the tradition of fans on the hillside at Saint Vincent College.

Is the lone field a problem? Yeah. Sure, it is.

Not just for squeezing in multiple practice drills in limited space. But also from the standpoint of tearing up Heinz Field before the start of the season. Early September is usually the lone time that playing surface is in good shape. Now, it may be at its most worn out.

Although the turf has come a long way from its early incarnations when the stadium first opened in 2001.

If weather, or crowding, or field conditions are a problem, Rutter says the team could be bussed over to the South Side in waves.

Sounds good to me. Plus, if the media is allowed to watch practice from a sanitized, air-conditioned press box, that’s a pleasant departure from baking out in the August sun.

Also, did I mention Heinz Field is walking distance from my house?

Not that I’m looking out for myself in this equation.

No! Never.