On Wednesday, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf issued a statement permitting the play and practice of professional sports, without spectators, in several Pennsylvania counties, including Alleghany County.
It’s still unclear when Westmoreland County, where the Steelers typically conduct training camp in mid-July, will be open to sports.
“Professional sports, defined as any sporting event at which the participants are paid by a league or team, or at which individuals or teams receive prizes or purse, are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan,” Wolf said in a statement.
Wolf added that the plan must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and must include testing or screening and monitoring.
This clears the Steelers to resume activities as soon as the league’s protocol reaches the phase of gathering players.
As part of phase one of reopening the league, the Steelers’ facility opened May 19. This phase allows no more than 50% of staff — and no more than 75 people — in the facility. None of the coaching staff is allowed in the building, though the strength and conditioning coach can be there if he or she is rehabilitating an injured player. Likewise, no players are allowed unless they’re being rehabilitated.
“We opened our facility last Tuesday, May 19, and have adhered to the policies and guidelines from government and health officials as well as the National Football League,” Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten said in a statement. “We appreciate the guidance from the governor’s office as we make plans to safely prepare for the 2020 season.”
No timeline for phase two has been provided.
