Steelers to allow 5,500 fans at future home games after COVID restrictions lessened

Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced new guidelines for large gathering events which will lessen coronavirus restrictions and allow outdoor venues to have a maximum of 10,000 people attend things like sporting events.

Under the new, more lenient restrictions, Heinz Field will now allow up to 7,500 people attend Pittsburgh Steelers games, which includes stadium employees, players, coaches, staff, etc.

Steelers President Art Rooney II announced today that future home games under these guidelines will allow 5,500 fans to attend games at Heinz Field. Fans will be limited to lower bowl seating at the stadium. 

Statement from #Steelers President Art Rooney II: pic.twitter.com/EJW9YIruVM

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 6, 2020

Allegheny County is still seeing dozens of, sometime more than 100, new COVID-19 cases each day. Nearly 400 people in Allegheny County have died of coronavirus since the pandemic started.

Before this announcement, the Steelers played games to an empty stadium, which Pittsburgh City Paper photographer documented in September for CP's weekly Pittsburgh City Photos series.

Demand for tickets will likely be high for this Sunday's game, especially with the Steelers off to an undefeated start to the season. Priority will be given to season ticket holders, and seat selection will be generated randomly by computers. In a statement, Rooney says the team might not have enough tickets available for every season ticket holder.

The Philadelphia Eagles will be in town on Sun., Oct., 11 to play the Steelers at Heinz Field. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The Steelers have not played their Pennsylvania rivals since 2016, when the Eagles won 34-3 in Philadelphia.