The Steelers plan to add another 2,390 seats to the south end zone at Heinz Field in time for next football season.

Team officials offered details of the proposed expansion during a briefing before the Pittsburgh Planning Commission today.

The two-level expansion will include 1,553 general admission seats, 837 premium seats and five suites. The premium seats will be located on the lower level closest to the field and in the middle of the second tier of seating.

The Steelers originally had considered adding as many 3,000 seats to the south end zone. 

“In this type of stadium project, seating numbers typically aren’t finalized until the construction drawings are 100% complete, and field measurements are taken,” Mark Hart, the Steelers' director of planning and development, said in a statement. “The total number of seats is subject to change until the seating contractor lays out and installs the seats, and the entire construction project is complete.”

As part of the project, a new plaza level will be created just below the existing Heinz Field scoreboard, and additional restrooms and concessions will be added in support of the expansion.

The total number of seats being added technically is 2,700 but 310 existing seats are being removed.

Based on North Shore land use requirements, 791 parking spaces will be needed to accommodate the expansion. Ms. Edwards said the premium seat holders will be able to use existing pre-sold lots around the stadium. The rest of the spaces will come from those available Downtown.

Heidi Edwards, project manager for Heinz Field, said the team hopes to get planning commission approval in two weeks so that construction can start in early to mid January as soon as the current season ends.

First Published: December 2, 2014, 7:24 p.m.