Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have increased their season ticket prices in some sections of Heinz Field in their first year without Ben Roethlisberger under center.
Some Pittsburgh Steelers fans will have to pay more for their season tickets to watch someone other than Ben Roethlisberger play quarterback for the AFC North franchise.
This is not the least bit shocking, but rather sad, to some extent. The Steelers have an undisputed top-three fanbase in the NFL. No franchise sees its fans travel better than Pittsburgh’s. While they could draft a franchise quarterback, trade for one, or hope one exists out there in the wonderful world of NFL free agency, the fans are holding the bag to what may their worst team in decades.
This may be a means to counterbalance lost revenue from the 2020 NFL season, but the Steelers organization does not need to turn their rabid fanbase into chumps.
Pittsburgh Steelers increase some season ticket prices after Big Ben retires
From a business standpoint, it makes sense. The demand for season tickets in Pittsburgh is very much there. Though it is not to the degree of what the Green Bay Packers have at Lambeau Field, Steelers fans will pack Heinz Field to the brim, win, lose or draw. Still, it is rich to ask the most passionate Steelers fans to give up more coin to watch a team that does not have a quarterback.
Surely, the Steelers will get someone not named Mason Rudolph to quarterback this team. Pittsburgh does not need to give up the farm to overdraft one or trade for one this offseason, but the Steelers must have a guy out there who gives the fanbase hope. Filling Big Ben’s massive shoes will be next to impossible, but The Rooneys cannot trot out a tomato can and that be okay.
Steelers fans are loyal and rabid, but they are not stupid, so do not mistake them for suckers.