If the Steelers have fans at Heinz Field in 2020, those fans had better be prepared to be wearing face masks to guard against the spread of coronavirus.
That's the bad news, so to speak. The good news is that the Steelers are planning on having fans at games.
In an email to season ticket holders Wednesday, the Steelers updated fans on some of the protocols that will be mandatory at Heinz Field this season.
"Our goal is to still have fans at Heinz Field this year with the understanding that social distancing, as well as all fans being required to wear masks, will play a role in the capacity to ensure a safe atmosphere," said Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten in the statement. "We will continue to work with the NFL and public health officials to finalize plans for fans to attend our home games.
"We are communicating with our season ticket holders to make them aware of the digital ticketing process we will employ this season at Heinz Field for a more flexible solution as we prepare for potential reduced capacity. We will continue the process of allowing our fans to opt out of their 2020 season tickets if they feel they are uniquely affected by the current situation."
Season ticket holders who choose to opt out due to safety concerns will not lose their season tickets in the long term. Those tickets could, however, be made available to others.
The NFL is currently in negotiations with the NFLPA regarding the length of the preseason and when training camps will start and how those will be held.
The Steelers have already announced their training camp will be held at Heinz Field instead of Saint Vincent College. Reports have surfaced that the NFL will reduce the preseason to two games. The NFLPA has voted to have no preseason games, but that vote is not binding.
If the NFL does reduce the preseason, those who have purchased tickets will receive a refund for any games that are canceled.
