'What we live for': 15,000 Steelers fans turn out for Friday Night Lights practice
LATROBE, Pa. (KDKA) — For the first time in four years, Steelers fans watched the team practice under the lights at training camp.
The Steelers had a record-breaking crowd for the annual event Friday at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, with officials saying 15,000 people were in attendance. They came from at least 29 states, along with Washington D.C. and Canada.
Under the lights, a sea of black and gold filled the high school stadium to cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fans and players were pumped for the first Friday Night Lights practice since 2019, after years of cancellations due to COVID-19 and inclement weather.
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was one of several players who signed autographs before practice started. It marked his first time at the annual event.
"This is awesome. This is bigger than I ever would have thought," Highsmith said.
It's a highlight of training camp that goes back more than 50 years and draws thousands of families from across the country. Officials told KDKA-TV that more than half the crowd came from out of state.
Sthela Holly Hanitrinirina moved to Pittsburgh from Madagascar right before the pandemic.
"I'm probably the only Malagasy person that loves the Steelers," Hanitrinirina said.
A few years ago, she didn't know anything about football. Now, she is now a major Steelers fan.
"I want to represent my country and I want the Steelers to know that we love them," Hanitrinirina said.
There's just something about seeing the players at a high school stadium, where folks like 6-year-old Arya Paone of Scranton can talk to them face to face.
"It was exciting because I've never seen the Steelers before in real life," Paone said.
It was a special moment to share with her father, Angelo, whose family is made up of Steelers fans going back generations.
"They're right there, they're our heroes, it's what we live for here," Angelo said.
The event is an early kick off to football season.
"We were calling it the pre, preseason," Angelo said.
He has high hopes for the coming months.
"Mark my words, you heard it, Super Bowl, happening," Angelo said.
The Steelers play their first preseason game of the season against Tampa next Friday.
