Steelers President Art Rooney II on 2020 training camp, playing a full season, adapting

Steelers President Art Rooney II on the planning of 2020 training camp at Heinz Field, adapting to the situation, playing this season

Steelers President Art Rooney II spoke to Bob Pompeani during the team's Saturday evening practice at Heinz Field, which aired on Pittsburgh's CW and the Steelers digital channels.

Rooney talked about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the team's 2020 training camp, which was moved from its normal home at Saint Vincent College to Heinz Field per NFL guidelines of holding camp at team facilities.

"This has been a long planning process," said Rooney. "It started back in May when we started to realize we weren't going to have a normal offseason program. As we progressed along it looked like we were going to have to change plans and not go to Saint Vincent College. Our friends up there at Saint Vincent and Latrobe, we are sorry we aren't there with you and we will be back next year.

"It was a long planning process. At the end of the day we felt like we could create a good situation here at Heinz Field. A lot of room to spread people out. So far, I think it's worked pretty well."

The NFL is one of the major sports leagues, along with MLB, that opted to not go into a 'bubble' for training camp and the season, mainly because of the logistics.

"I don't there was ever a serious conversion about trying to put the whole league in one or two cities," said Rooney. "The logistics of that were going to be difficult to manage. The player's association was never enthusiastic about that. We never really talked about a bubble like the NHL and the NBA are doing."

Despite not having a bubble, Rooney feels good about the prospect of the 2020 season going on as planned.

"I feel good about the season," said Rooney. "I think we will play the season. If we have to adjust somewhere along the way I think we have to adapt. This year has been that for everybody. You have to learn to adapt and make the best out of the situation. I know the league is prepared for that. We are prepared for that. I feel good about the season getting started on time and hopefully ending on time. We'll see."

Because of the pandemic fans have been unable to attend camp this year, and multiple teams have announced that they will not have fans either in the early parts of the season, or at all this season. The Steelers will open the 2020 season against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 14 on Monday Night Football without fans, but Rooney said there are still conversations with state officials going on regarding having fans at Heinz Field at some point for regular season games.

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