By Luke Mich
Because of the NFL being the only professional league to not have their season delayed, postponed, or cancelled, it can be assumed that no football events during the season have been altered. Even the draft is still in place to begin at its original date on Thursday, April 23, albeit virtually. However, there are concerns that many NFL events in the summertime could be delayed, suspended, or moved to an isolated location, with the main football event in the summer, besides preseason, being training camp.
This begs the question: Will the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent still happen? Or, will the 54-year streak be dashed by the virus?
As of now, all in-person offseason activities have been postponed indefinitely, or for at least a week, according to NFL.com, as most athletes are training at home with the equipment they have.
“That is a discussion that will involve many organizations, not just Saint Vincent, and any information regarding training camp will certainly be communicated, if and when necessary.” - Mike Hustava
Mike Hustava, senior director of marketing and communications, stated that for now, the Steelers camp is still scheduled to occur.
“At this time, no such decisions have been made regarding any changes to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp,” Hustava explained. “That is a discussion that will involve many organizations, not just Saint Vincent, and any information regarding training camp will certainly be communicated, if and when necessary.”Some have doubts all will proceed as normal.
“At the rate that things are going, I honestly doubt that there will be training camp at Saint Vincent, and if [the Steelers] do, it will probably be closed to the fans,” said student John Allen, who worked at the Steelers training camp last year.
Whether the NFL will resume a normal schedule is unclear due to the virus. While President Donald Trump told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that he hoped to have sporting events being played with fans in attendance “by August or September” according to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, there are worries that the Coronavirus may linger longer, including leading up to the season.
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