The Steelers are trying to block a proposal for a slot machine casino on the North Shore near Heinz Field.

In formal objections filed with the state Gaming Control Board, the team said a casino would "seriously conflict" with development plans for land between PNC Park and Heinz Field, add to existing parking and traffic woes, and create concerns for the National Football League, which is opposed to links between its teams and players and gambling.

"We feel there needs to be some distance between facilities like this and sports facilities," Steelers President Arthur J. Rooney II said yesterday.

The letter to the gaming board formalizes the Steelers' oft-stated opposition to a North Shore casino. Team officials initially opposed a plan by Alco Parking Corp. President Merrill Stabile to build a casino near PNC Park.

Although Mr. Stabile later dropped his plan, Detroit businessman Don Barden is seeking to build a $410 million Majestic Star casino between the Carnegie Science Center and West End Bridge.

The Steelers and Pirates are working with Continental Real Estate Cos. to redevelop land between the two stadiums. So far that has resulted in construction of office buildings and a plan to build an amphitheater and entertainment district known as Pittsburgh Live!.

Mr. Rooney said the development plan never included gambling. In its letter, the team said the city had assured the two office anchors -- Equitable Resources and Del Monte Foods -- that there would not be gambling on the North Shore.

Another concern is parking, Mr. Rooney said. The Steelers now have about 5,000 spaces available for game days, but they fear parking will be in even greater demand with the proposed Pittsburgh Live! district and future development. Adding a casino will create a greater crunch, he said.

Mr. Barden dismissed the concerns, accusing the team of trying to stifle competition. He said he is planning restaurants and bars as part of his proposal that would compete with the Continental and Pittsburgh Live! developments.

"It's not what's good for the community, Pittsburgh or the state of Pennsylvania, it's what's good for their own pockets," he said.

Not so, Mr. Rooney countered in an e-mail.

"Not being from Pittsburgh, I don't think Mr. Barden would have a true understanding of what happens on the North Shore on a Steeler Sunday, [or worse, Monday night]. The competition I'm concerned about is the competition for parking and access to highways," he said.

Mr. Barden said he is proposing to build a 4,000- to 5,000-space parking garage to accommodate additional traffic.

He questioned the Steelers' objectivity, noting that Nationwide Realty Investors, a Columbus developer teaming with Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. on a redevelopment plan for the Hill District, also is working with Continental on the North Shore development. Isle of Capri is competing against Mr. Barden's venture for the city's only casino license.

"I think they have unclean hands when it comes to the credibility or merit of their opposition," he said.

While Nationwide is an equity partner with Continental on the North Shore, it has no direct relationship with the Steelers, Mr. Rooney said. Frank Kass, Continental chairman, also noted that the Steelers, Continental and other North Shore stakeholders opposed North Shore gambling before Nationwide hooked up with Isle of Capri.

"That's incorrect and groping for an excuse," he said of Mr. Barden's charge.

Mr. Barden called Mr. Rooney's concerns about gambling being close to Heinz Field "ridiculous." He said Detroit's Greektown casino is within a couple of blocks of Ford Field, where the Super Bowl was played, and the NFL registered no objections.

"It's just an excuse," he said.