The Pitt-Steelers Facility Partnership is Under Criticism

Some players are dissatisfied with the lack of room and equipment at the practice facility that they share with the Pitt Panthers and Steelers.

PITTSBURGH— The Pittsburgh Steelers’ poor performance in the most recent NFLPA Team Report Card can be attributed primarily to the quality of the facilities they share with the Pitt Panthers. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the Steelers’ practice facilities, citing a lack of space as one reason, and the Panthers’ practice facilities being housed at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex as another. Players have also expressed dissatisfaction with management’s perceived reluctance to make improvements.

The majority of changes that players wished to see were renovations to the locker room and general expansion. Only 60% of Steelers players think their locker room is large enough (28th in the NFL), while 65% think they have enough room in their individual lockers (29th in the NFL).

This opinion was also present in the locker room, where 61% of players felt there was enough space for a hot tub (19th in the NFL) and 83% felt there was enough capacity for a cold tub (20th in the NFL).

An analysis of the Steelers report card stated, “Some feel the training room is understaffed and lacks the necessary equipment and modalities that should be standard in NFL training rooms.” “They also would like the team to add a sauna, which most teams in the NFL offer.”

Steelers players said the weight room didn’t have enough space either and that it must be expanded to minimize waiting at machines to get their lift in. They also say it lacks the equipment they would expect in a “high-quality facility.”

There are several restrictions at the Steelers’ South Side stadium in Pittsburgh. Former offensive tackle for the Browns and current NFLPA president J.C. Tretter pointed out that the Steelers are the only NFL team that has a shared space with a college program. Split down the middle, Pitt’s locker rooms, conference rooms, offices, and cafeteria are all located in the same building as the Steelers.

The Steelers’ ability to develop its facilities is restricted by this as well as the characteristics of the neighborhood. The UPMC Rooney Sports Complex is surrounded by buildings unrelated to either football team, a river on one side, and train lines on the other.

The players of the Pittsburgh Steelers not only think that there are issues with the facilities, but they also think that management is unwilling to spend the money necessary to improve practice and gameday amenities.

“There is little confidence among respondents in the willingness of club owner Art Rooney ll to invest in a better workplace, as he ranks second to last in this year’s report,” the Steelers’ evaluation card stated.

From the beginning of the summer, Steelers owner Art Rooney II stated that the team is looking into ways to improve various South Side and Acrisure Stadium infrastructure.

“So far, I haven’t encountered too many players that are architects. We welcome player input,” Rooney declared. “Look, we do examine national benchmarks and the requirements that players must meet to succeed in the modern game. To tell the truth, we’re not as invested in the stadium as we are in the, let’s say, evaluation of this facility. However, that will happen.”

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