JuJu Smith-Schuster and Zach Banner talk about Pepsi’s new campaign and other offers for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in 2020.
Every year, fans travel from near and far to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take the practice field in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for their annual training camp. The hillside at Saint Vincent College is normally packed with thousands of crazed fans, cheering on their team under the unforgiving sun. Near the end of each practice, fans would make their way to the path and attempt to snag an autograph or selfie with some of their favorite players.
Unfortunately, things look very different in 2020. That’s where Pepsi steps in.
Because of the pandemic, not only did Steelers fans miss out on all of the amenities that normally come with having training camp in Latrobe, but they also lost five games worth of preseason action Pittsburgh was set to take part in during the summer of 2020. Fortunately, Pepsi is here to make that transition a bit easier for fans.
I recently caught up with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and offensive tackle Zach Banner where they talked about Pepsi’s new Made For Steelers Watching campaign. This new website is devoted to keeping Pittsburgh fans connected to the team in a whole new way. Here’s what Smith-Schuster had to say about Pepsi’s new promotion:
"“Me and Zach [Banner], we partnered with Pepsi. One of the biggest things this year is fans not being able to be at stadiums, at Heinz Field, and everybody watching from home. But we’ve done some amazing things. So we’re doing something really fun to amp up the fans.Everybody knows how much I love to get on a bike and go for a bike ride… Pepsi is helping to share that passion, that’s one of a kind – a sweepstakes where a few lucky winners will have a chance to join me and Zach Banner for a private ride around Heinz Field.”"
In addition to three lucky grand prize winners getting the opportunity to ride a bike around Heinz Field with Smith-Schuster and Banner, they will also receive a custom Pepsi bike.
Zach Banner also offered some encouragement for fans amidst the pandemic. Here’s what he had to say regarding Pepsi’s new fan portal:
"“We know that this season may look different for the fans and us players, but Pepsi is trying to bring something fun and exciting so that the fans, no matter what, if they’re watching us from home or at Heinz Field can enjoy the season. They created a Pepsi’s official Steelers fan portal called MadeForSteelersWatching.com. And fans can head to the portal for a chance to win additional sweeps.”"
Though the offseason looked very different for Steelers fans in 2020 as they were forced to distance themselves from the team, it’s encouraging to know that Pepsi has your back with some amazing new promotions.
On top of sharing information about Pepsi’s new sweepstakes, Smith-Schuster also elaborated on his love for riding bikes and where it all stemmed from. Prior to earning his driver’s license, JuJu learned how to ride a bike; but his love for biking didn’t end after he earned his first set of keys. Despite entering his fourth season in the NFL and owning multiple cars, Smith-Schuster still takes the time to hit the trails:
"“Even to this day, I still bike. I average about 15-30 miles, around there, on my days off where I’m able to bike around the city, go down the trails. I got into it a lot becuase it helps out my legs, it’s not too much on my upper body, and it’s just a great sweat… I love enjoying the environment, the quiteness, and the nature itself.”"
During our interview, Smith-Schuster and Banner shared some insight into training camp including the progress of Ben Roethlisberger, how they’ve trained in a new environment, and which players have really stood out so far. I plan on sharing some of this information very soon.
To learn more about Pepsi’s Made For Steelers Watching, check out the promotional video below: