PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While the NFL not allowing the Steelers to hold training camp in Latrobe is a bummer to fans who love to watch practice and see the players up close. A bummer to the coaches who love to have the team isolated to prepare for a season. It’s a bigger impact to Latrobe area business, already trying to rebound from shutdowns due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are disappointed to not have camp here,” said Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce President Briana Tomack. “We love the Steelers. They are a really important part of our community when they come every year. This is the second straight year we won’t have them. There are economic impacts to that as well. The NFL made that decision to keep them safe. It’s disappointing.”
“Obviously the Laurel Highlands and the Latrobe community always look forward to Steelers Training Camp and the revenue that it brings,” Go Laurel Highlands Executive Director Ann Nemanic told 93.7 The Fan. “Our small businesses and our lodging community are impacted by this decision. Steelers Training Camp is a tradition for decades, the Steelers are all about tradition. We certainly hope that it returns in 2022.”
Neither knew exact numbers of the financial impact, but for those three weeks in late July and early August hotels within a 15 to 20 mile radius of St. Vincent College are either at or near 100% capacity. These fans also patronize the restaurants, shops and tourist activities in the area.
“It will hurt people financially,” Tomack said. “It’s been a rough year and a half. Hopefully we are at the tail end of it. Right?”
Nemanic said fans pass the tradition of going to Steelers camp down from generations. They make family plans to attend together. She said they’ve had calls from numerous parts of the country including California and Texas about attending Steelers camp.
“It’s a very unique experience in the NFL,” Nemanic said, adding their campgrounds and other attractions in the area are doing well. “We just keep our fingers crossed that it comes back in 2022.”
The Steelers pledged in their statement about the NFL prohibiting them from holding camp in Latrobe that they will return in 2022.
“We plan to hold their feet to the fire,” Nemanic said.