PITTSBURGH — Well, the week has come. The Pittsburgh Steelers will report to training camp Wednesday, and they will take the practice field at Saint Vincent College on Thursday.

Fans from all around the world (yes, the world) will travel to Latrobe for the open practices at Chuck Noll Field, many for the first time. What can fans expect, especially with many changes to the training camp format this season?

Here’s what Steelers fans can expect from the team’s training camp:

Basic Information

First, let’s get the basic information established. Every practice is open to the public. The dates for practices are July 25-28 and 30-31, August 1-4, 6-8, 11-12, and 14.

However, the key change this year is that only weekend practices start at 1:55 p.m., the previous start time. That means that July 27-28 and August 3-4 will take place at 1:55 p.m. The team’s August 11 practice will start at 2:55 p.m.

Every other practice will start at 10:30 a.m. For the full training camp schedule, take a look here.

Like the last two years, tickets are required to enter the campus. However, the tickets are free and acquired on the Steelers website. In addition, parking in any of the lots on campus comes without charge.

Those parking lots will open up at 7:30 a.m. for 10:30 a.m. practices. For 10:30 a.m. practices, gates to campus open at 8:00 a.m. Meanwhile, the parking lots will open at 10:30 a.m. for 1:55 p.m. practices. The gates will open at 11:00 a.m.

Things to Bring

When it comes to training camp, it can be a long day. Practices will last at least two hours, and if fans want autographs, it will take longer than that.

There is very little shade at Chuck Noll Field, so sunscreen is paramount. Hats and sunglasses are recommended to help repel sunlight as well. If rain is predicted, the team may practice outside, so an umbrella, coat, or poncho would serve fans well.

In the bleachers, there is very limited seating. That means that most will sit on the hillside above the field. With that in mind, make sure to bring either folding chairs or towels. You can bring your own water and snacks into the stadium, and that can be useful. If you do not, the campus sells a variety of beverages and food. However, alcohol is prohibited from the campus.

Also, if you are planning to bring a bag, you can bring just about any bag you wish. There is no clear bag policy on campus.

Important Tidbits

• Training camp is busy. That means that on most days, fans should arrive early to beat the rush to the parking lots. Traffic gets backed up quickly, and fans can be idle for a considerable amount of time while waiting to get into the parking lots.

Parking is at the intersection of Saint Vincent Drive and Brouwers Road. Make sure to follow the Gold signage to the parking area. If you have a disability, you can park closer at the Fred Rogers Centre, but only with a disability parking placard.

• Autographs can be had from any number of players. From T.J. Watt to Najee Harris, players are willing to sign autographs and do so on multiple days throughout training camp. So, if fans are looking for autographs, make sure to either bring an item, such as a hat, football, or shirt along with a sharpie for players to autograph. If you forget an item, memorabilia will be sold at the Steelers Pro Shop and Steelers Authentic Memorabilia near the entrance of campus.

For anyone wanting autographs, getting as close to the field as possible is the easiest way to get autographs. Players will generally sign more autographs over towards the hill up towards campus, but some players will come over near the bleachers. Either way, the closer to the field fans are, the likelier they are to attain autographs from players.

• From the stands, seeing across the fields can become difficult. A pair of binoculars could serve fans well, especially when the Steelers split up onto two different practice fields.

• An ideal practice for first-timers is to attend the Friday Night Lights practice. Occurring on August 2 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, the Steelers practice underneath the lights on a Friday night at 7 p.m., just like a high school game.

There is an unmatched energy and feel to that, and a sense of community. Players will take pictures and sign autographs before and after practice. More than that, Latrobe Fest will occur all day from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. During that festival, opportunities for autographs from Steelers legends, giveaways, and much more will pop up.

• On rainy days, the Steelers will not be guaranteed to practice outside. They may practice outside or move practice back to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Either way, fans should know that inclement weather will affect the possibility of seeing the team practice. It will not be open to the public if they head inside or back to the South Side.

• Lastly, the Steelers have an August 15 joint practice with the Buffalo Bills. However, it will not be open to the public and will take place at Acrisure Stadium.

What to Do Around Town

Latrobe is a small town, but there are plenty of places around Westmoreland County and nearby that fans can stop by during a multiple-day stay. For one, in nearby Ligonier, the Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park offers plenty of options for families. If fans are looking for a place to eat or hit the bar after a practice, the iconic Sharky’s Cafe acts as both a bar and restaurant with an indoor and open air portion to the setting. Dino’s is a five-minute drive down the road. And DeNunzio’s, out by Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, offers some of the best food in the region.

For fans who want something more in touch with nature, Twin Lakes Park offers a scenic walk with community events. On August 4, the park will hold to August Fun Fest, which features a car show cruise, a marketplace, a rock climbing wall, and much more.

Steelers training camp is a blast for anyone that wants to root on the Black and Gold, and maybe you will see a beat writer, like me, out there. If you want to, feel free to say hello. I’ll be on campus early before practice every day, so feel free to send me a message if you want to meet up.