YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND PITTSBURGH BEAT OUT 20 OTHER CITIES TO WIN THE BID FOR THE 2026 NFL DRAFT. AND NOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN AWARDED THE BIG EVENT, THIS IS HOW THEY PLAN TO PULL IT OFF. LAST MONTH, DETROIT HOSTED THE NFL DRAFT IN THE CAMPUS MARTIUS SECTION OF DOWNTOWN. NFL OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 700,000 FOOTBALL FANS MIGHT RELATED TO THE MOTOR CITY FOR THE THREE DAY EVENT. AND TODAY, STEELERS PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II SAYS PITTSBURGH’S DRAFT LOCATION WILL BE ON THE NORTH SHORE. OH, THE LOCATION WILL MOST LIKELY BE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OUTSIDE ACRISURE STADIUM AND SPILLING OVER INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THIS IS THE AREA NEXT TO ACRISURE STADIUM. THE PLANS COULD INCLUDE PLACING THE STAGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STADIUM. GENERAL ROBINSON BOULEVARD BECOMES THE SPECTATOR HUB FOR AT LEAST TWO BLOCKS TO HANDLE AN ESTIMATED 300,000 PEOPLE, AND RUNNING PARALLEL IS NORTH SHORE DRIVE, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE VENUE. LIKE DETROIT, PITTSBURGH WOULD CREATE ANCILLARY VENUES ACROSS THE RIVER DOWNTOWN. WOULD YOU UTILIZE PITT AVENUE IN THE CULTURAL DISTRICT? WE’D USE IT ALL. ALL OF DOWNTOWN WOULD REALLY BE ACTIVATED FOR THE DRAFT. LAST MONTH, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR EXAMINED THE BIDDING PROCESS. YES, THAT PITTSBURGH HAD TO COMPLETE FOR THE 2026 DRAFT DECISION MAKERS FOR THE NFL SAY PITTSBURGH COMPETED AGAINST 20 OTHER CITIES TODAY. MAYOR ED GAINEY SAYS PITTSBURGH IS READY TO HOST THE LARGEST EVENT IN THE CITY’S HISTORY. WE’RE OPTIMISTIC, AND I’M MORE THAN SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT FROM PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL AS TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THIS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT. I MEAN, I THINK IT’S A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. AND TOMORROW, THE NFL DRAFT HOST COMMITTEE PLANS TO ANNOUNCE THEIR GAME PLAN IN ORDER TO HOST THE EVENT STARTING IN 2026. FOR NOW, REPORTI
Pittsburgh to host NFL draft in 2026
The NFL says the 2026 draft will incorporate elements of Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium.
The NFL draft is coming to Pittsburgh in 2026. It could be the largest visitor event in the city’s history, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend.VIDEO ABOVE: Steelers owner Art Rooney II talks about bringing the NFL Draft to PittsburghThe league made the announcement during its spring meetings on Wednesday, saying that the 2026 draft will incorporate elements of Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh and Acrisure Stadium just across the river on the North Shore.”The location will most likely be right outside Acrisure Stadium and spilling over to the downtown area,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said.As Rooney spoke about the excitement of bringing a draft to Pittsburgh, he acknowledged the high bar that has been set by other host cities in recent years.”The city of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania have a great tradition,” Rooney said. “The roots of pro football really are deep in our region, so we plan to celebrate the Mike Ditkas, the Dan Marinos, the Joe Montanas, etc., that came from our area.”It will be extremely exciting, and we just look forward to working with our community and make sure it’s a great event.”When Pittsburgh’s bid was submitted, people involved with the process were projecting anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 people. The 2024 draft in downtown Detroit set a new attendance record with more than 775,000 fans for the three-day event, which was expected to generate more than $160 million in economic impact at hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores.”I’m more than sure that we will be able to handle it, from public safety as well as to the businesses in the community,” Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday morning, when asked about the possibility of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh. “Whatever we have to do to make this one of the best events, we’re going to make it. I think it’s a golden opportunity if we’re able to land the draft.”No matter what city I go to, there’s always some type of Steeler bar, Steeler restaurant. There’s a lot of people that left here due to the collapse of the steel mills, and they went to find better ways to make a living. I only could imagine for a grandma or a grandfather who is coming home with their grandkids, to be able to demonstrate to them why this city means so much to them, and why, even though they may live in another city, Pittsburgh is their home. For them to be able to come back and show their grandkids or great-grandkids, I think it will be phenomenal.”A Pittsburgh host committee submitted the bid to land the NFL draft. It’s led by the Steelers, VisitPittsburgh, Allegheny County and the state, with a host of other organizations.VIDEO ABOVE: Inside the process of Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft bid and how it followed Detroit’s blueprintIn April, the CEO of VisitPittsburgh told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the North Shore, next to Acrisure Stadium, was the location that would make the most sense for a Pittsburgh-hosted draft.One idea was to make the stadium the hub, placing the stage on the east side. Fans would gather along West General Robinson Street for at least two blocks. North Shore Drive would also be a part of the venue.Several blocks of Penn Avenue in the Cultural District would be part of the fan experience, as well as Gateway Center and several blocks of Liberty Avenue.”It’s great for the city, everyone that has a business here, small businesses, everything. I can’t wait. … It’s going to bring great vibes to Pittsburgh,” said Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz, a Pittsburgh native. “It’s always been in a massive city like Vegas or somewhere like that. Just for the yinzers to experience that, it’s going to be awesome.”Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, who announced Pittsburgh’s second-round pick at the 2024 NFL draft, was also excited by the news.”It’s awesome,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously it’s good for Pittsburgh, great for local restaurants and bars around there, with the revenue and stuff. It’s good to have fans from all over the world, the country, come here to Pittsburgh and check out the great city it is.”The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The NFL draft is coming to Pittsburgh in 2026. It could be the largest visitor event in the city’s history, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend.
VIDEO ABOVE: Steelers owner Art Rooney II talks about bringing the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh
The league made the announcement during its spring meetings on Wednesday, saying that the 2026 draft will incorporate elements of Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh and Acrisure Stadium just across the river on the North Shore.
“The location will most likely be right outside Acrisure Stadium and spilling over to the downtown area,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said.
As Rooney spoke about the excitement of bringing a draft to Pittsburgh, he acknowledged the high bar that has been set by other host cities in recent years.
“The city of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania have a great tradition,” Rooney said. “The roots of pro football really are deep in our region, so we plan to celebrate the Mike Ditkas, the Dan Marinos, the Joe Montanas, etc., that came from our area.
“It will be extremely exciting, and we just look forward to working with our community and make sure it’s a great event.”
When Pittsburgh’s bid was submitted, people involved with the process were projecting anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 people. The 2024 draft in downtown Detroit set a new attendance record with more than 775,000 fans for the three-day event, which was expected to generate more than $160 million in economic impact at hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores.
“I’m more than sure that we will be able to handle it, from public safety as well as to the businesses in the community,” Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday morning, when asked about the possibility of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh. “Whatever we have to do to make this one of the best events, we’re going to make it. I think it’s a golden opportunity if we’re able to land the draft.
“No matter what city I go to, there’s always some type of Steeler bar, Steeler restaurant. There’s a lot of people that left here due to the collapse of the steel mills, and they went to find better ways to make a living. I only could imagine for a grandma or a grandfather who is coming home with their grandkids, to be able to demonstrate to them why this city means so much to them, and why, even though they may live in another city, Pittsburgh is their home. For them to be able to come back and show their grandkids or great-grandkids, I think it will be phenomenal.”
A Pittsburgh host committee submitted the bid to land the NFL draft. It’s led by the Steelers, VisitPittsburgh, Allegheny County and the state, with a host of other organizations.
VIDEO ABOVE: Inside the process of Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft bid and how it followed Detroit’s blueprint
In April, the CEO of VisitPittsburgh told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the North Shore, next to Acrisure Stadium, was the location that would make the most sense for a Pittsburgh-hosted draft.
One idea was to make the stadium the hub, placing the stage on the east side. Fans would gather along West General Robinson Street for at least two blocks. North Shore Drive would also be a part of the venue.
Several blocks of Penn Avenue in the Cultural District would be part of the fan experience, as well as Gateway Center and several blocks of Liberty Avenue.
“It’s great for the city, everyone that has a business here, small businesses, everything. I can’t wait. … It’s going to bring great vibes to Pittsburgh,” said Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz, a Pittsburgh native. “It’s always been in a massive city like Vegas or somewhere like that. Just for the yinzers to experience that, it’s going to be awesome.”
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, who announced Pittsburgh’s second-round pick at the 2024 NFL draft, was also excited by the news.
“It’s awesome,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously it’s good for Pittsburgh, great for local restaurants and bars around there, with the revenue and stuff. It’s good to have fans from all over the world, the country, come here to Pittsburgh and check out the great city it is.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.