JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to hold another NFL training camp in Laurel Highlands this summer, hoping to bring along a crowd of tourists dubbed “Steelers Nation.”
Tourism-focused nonprofit GO Laurel Highlands has been selected as the Steelers’ preferred vacation destination partner.
That means landmarks and points of interest in Somerset, Westmoreland and Fayette counties will be promoted to the public through the Steelers over the next few months, the organizations announced.
“Our connection and engagement with Steelers Nation provides an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the unique tourism assets and experiences of our region, our partners and within our reach,” said Ann Nemanik, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands.
The Steelers have longstanding ties to Laurel Highlands. The team has held its annual training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Westmoreland County, since 1966, except for two summers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Training camp gives fans a free glimpse at new and returning talent and the chance to get autographs from Steelers players, and the event has attracted tourists to the area for decades.
This year’s camp will be held on the St. Vincent campus from July 24th to Aug. 14th, with the popular Friday Night Lights practice scheduled for Aug. 2nd at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
Nemanich said GO Laurel Highlands was previously a partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, setting up an “activation zone” at training camp and running ads during games at Acrisure Stadium.
The new agreement expands on that, with GO Laurel Highlands sponsoring the team’s schedule presentation in May and working with the Steelers organization to bring more attention to “the great attributes of Laurel Highlands,” a GO Laurel Highlands official said.
A video announcement of the collaboration this week offered a glimpse of that effort, showcasing Steelers star Cameron Heyward filmed at Fallingwater, an architectural masterpiece in Fayette County, and riding his bike through Ohiopyle State Park and the Great Allegheny Passage, which runs through Somerset County.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with GO Laurel Highlands,” said Ryan Hazjack, vice president of sales and marketing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “This partnership gives the tourism bureau a unique way to showcase all that the Laurel Highlands region has to offer through the Steelers platform. It also gives fans a chance to win a trip to Laurel Highlands in two offseason raffles, one of which will take place from July 8 to August 1.”
Nemanik said his goal is to show Steelers fans visiting training camp that there are plenty of reasons to extend their stay in the Laurel Highlands, including trips to the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, paddle boating on the Stoney Creek River and upscale stays at the Nemacolin Resort in Fayette County.
“As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ favorite vacation destination, avid fans will find compelling itineraries in every area of interest,” said Nemanik. “They will quickly discover that this is just the beginning of why GO Laurel Highlands is the destination of choice for millions of people each year.”
