Steelers face logistical challenges to facilities upgrades

When the NFL handed out grades for all 32 teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers bombed in the area of facilities. Teams were graded across the board from training facilities, food service, weight room, lockers and more. Pittsburgh was at or near the bottom in a majority of categories prompting the team to look for some solutions.

New Executive Director of the NFLPA Lloyd Howell Jr. visited the Steelers facilities to help with this undertaking but he and the team realized there are some logistical concerns with any upgrades to the team facilities.

“Over time, what we’re looking for is steady improvement,” Howell said. “We’re not looking for the Four Seasons of all training facilities, but certainly efforts to be responsive, starting with the training room, starting with the number of trainers and eventually we can get to the physical aspect of the facility when the economics and everything work out.”

According to Steelers writer Joe Rutter, the problems are logistical with the location of the team’s facilities. Rutter said there are railroad tracks on one side, a river on another an an office complex on a third. The Steelers are bottled in as far as space goes so it might come down to upgrading what they have and maximizing the real estate they have.