About 6,000 Steelers fans reserved tickets for the opening day of training camp Wednesday, according to gate staff at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. But that number will skyrocket when the weekend arrives.
We collected a few figures from 2022 Steelers training camp to put the first week in perspective.
12
Number of autographs William Orris, 13, of Newport News, Va., was able to get on his first visit to Steelers training camp.
William’s father Bill attended high school with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, and the pair were waiting to see if they might able to say hello when Tomlin and the coaching staff came down the hill for the 1:55 p.m. practice on Thursday.
William’s training camp is going pretty well thus far.
“Yesterday while I was getting autographs, T.J. Watt was getting ready to sign something of mine when he just kind of flipped his glove into the crowd,” William said. “My dad ended up catching it.”
Orris collected a dozen signatures, including Steelers owner Art Rooney II.
57
Number of T.J. Watt jerseys seen on fans waiting in line for player autographs on Thursday afternoon. Watt is far and away the most popular jersey being worn by fans at training camp this year.
Several Steelers greats are running a close second, though, with a sizable number of Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis jerseys making an appearance.
450
The number of people Ash Kabalan estimated he would be serving on a daily basis at training camp.
Kabalan, a native of Syria, owns and operates Ash & Kris Kitchen food truck, serving Mediterranean fare like falafel and gyros.
“I always stock up more food for an event like this,” Kabalan said. “I’m planning for about $5,000 in food sales today, which is about 450 people, but you never know for sure.”
5,000
Square yardage of the massive white tarp covering the field when fans arrived on Thursday, to keep it in decent condition in case of inclement weather.
Steelers mascot Steely McBeam came to the field Thursday afternoon wearing a bright yellow rain poncho, and his weather forecast proved correct as the rain came pouring down just before the public afternoon practice was getting underway. It didn’t deter fans, though, who lined all four sides of the field to watch the team.
15,000
Number of free tickets reserved for the first full weekend day of training camp.
Saint Vincent staff working the gate said the 6,000 tickets reserved for Wednesday will nearly triple on Saturday, when fans will come from far and wide to get a glimpse of their favorite players, wait in line for autographs and mingle with Steelers alumni. Click here for the Trib’s fan guide to training camp.
