Steelers Announce Playoff Crowd vs. Browns Will Be Restricted to Family, Friends

The crowd at Heinz Field for Sunday's playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns will be exclusive and small.  

A Pennsylvania state order limits the capacity at the facility to 2,500, including players and team staff. Only family and friends of the team will be allowed to attend, the team announced Thursday. 

After no fans were allowed for the team's first two home games, Heinz Field was allowed more than double Sunday's capacity during home games in October and November. There were 7,500 fans allowed on Oct. 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles before a new order brought the capacity back down to 2,500 in December. 

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke out about the restrictions Wednesday. 

"I hate it for the fans," he said. "I think about what Heinz Field would be like Sunday night. Anyone who has been there knows how special it would be. I hate it for them. I hate it for the Steelers, for the energy and excitement that it brings. But once again, that is what we are doing. That is what we are living in."

Roethlisberger also noted that there might be a lack of a home-field advantage as other teams around the league allow varying numbers of fans for wild-card games (h/t NBC Sports).

The Buffalo Bills will have fans for the first time this season when they play the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, with an approved capacity of 6,772. The Seattle Seahawks will have empty seats when they host the Los Angeles Rams, as will Washington when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to town.

As the Baltimore Ravens look to avenge last season's playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans, they'll also have to handle a crowd. The New Orleans Saints will be hosting up to 3,000 fans for the Chicago Bears game on Sunday. 

But the lack of a home-field advantage could play out in favor of the Browns, who haven't practiced this week amid an outbreak of COVID-19 that has left them without head coach Kevin Stefanski and with seven players on the league's reserve/COVID-19 list.