Pitt-Steelers Facility Partnership Faces Criticism

Inadequate space and equipment at the shared practice facility with the Steelers and Pitt Panthers have some players unhappy.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers received poor marks in their most recent NFLPA Team Report Card and the quality of the facilities they share with the Pitt Panthers is the biggest reason why. 

Inadequate space was cited as one reason why Steelers players believe their practice facilities fall far behind their counterparts in the NFL. That they share space at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex with the Panthers, who also house their practice facilities there, and the perceived unwillingness of management to invest in improvements are two of the biggest reasons the Steelers received low grades in the annual player survey. 

Only 60% of Steelers players believe their locker room is big enough (28th in the NFL), 65% believe they have enough room in their individual lockers (29th in the NFL) and the most common change players wanted to see was a renovation of the locker room and overall expansion. 

That sentiment extended to the training room as well, with 61% of players saying the feel there is enough hot tub space (19th in the NFL) and 83% saying there is enough cold tub space (20th in the NFL). 

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

Steelers players believed the weight room didn't have enough space either and that it must be expanded to prevent waiting at machines to get their lift in. They also feel it lacks the equipment they would expect in a "high-quality facility."

The Steelers' facility on Pittsburgh's South Side is limited in a number of ways. NFLPA president J.C. Tretter, former Browns offensive lineman, noted that the Steelers are the only NFL team that shares space with a college program. Pitt's locker rooms, meeting rooms, offices and cafeteria are housed in the same building as the Steelers, which is split down the middle. 

That, plus the makeup of the surrounding area limits where the Steelers can expand their facilities. There is a river on one side, train tracks on the other and surrounding buildings not associated with either football team that box the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in.

Steelers players not only believe that there are problems with the facilities, but that management is not willing to invest the money to upgrade the practice or gameday facilites. 

"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' report card read. 

Steelers owner Art Rooney II said from the outset of the offseason that the team is exploring how to upgrade certain facilities in the South Side and at Acrisure Stadium.  

"I haven't met too many players that are architects yet. We're not opposed to player feedback," Rooney said. "Look, we do look at what are the benchmarks around the country, what do players need to be successful these days. To be honest with you, we're not as deep into the let's say assessment of this facility as we are into the stadium. But that will come."

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