YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND PITTSBURGH BEAT 20 OTHER CITIES TO WIN THE BID FOR THE 2026 NFL DRAFT. AND NOW THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THE BIG EVENT, THIS IS HOW THEY PLAN TO MAKE IT SUCCEED. LAST MONTH, DETROIT WELCOMED THE NFL DRAFT IN THE CAMPUS MARTIUS SECTION OF DOWNTOWN. NFL OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 700,000 FOOTBALL FANS COULD BE BOUND TO MOTOR CITY FOR THE THREE-DAY EVENT. AND TODAY STEELERS PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II SAYS THE PROJECTED PITTSBURGH LOCATION WILL BE ON THE NORTH SHORE. Oh, the location will most likely be, you know, just outside Acrisure Stadium and spilling over into the city center. THIS IS THE AREA NEXT TO ACRISURE STADIUM. PLANS COULD INCLUDE SETTING UP THE STAGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STADIUM. GENERAL ROBINSON BOULEVARD BECOMES THE CENTER OF SPECTATORS FOR AT LEAST TWO BLOCKS TO HANDLE AN ESTIMATED 300,000 PEOPLE, AND IN PARALLEL IS NORTH SHORE DRIVE, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THE VENUE. LIKE DETROIT, PITTSBURGH WILL CREATE AUXILIARY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE RIVER DOWNTOWN. DO YOU USE PITT AVENUE IN THE CULTURAL DISTRICT? WE USE EVERYTHING. THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN WOULD REALLY BE ACTIVATED FOR THE PROJECT. LAST MONTH, THE PITTSBURGH ACTION NEWS FOUR EXAMINED THE BIDDING PROCESS. YES, THAT PITTSBURGH MUST COMPLETE FOR THE 2026 DRAFT. NFL DECISION-MAKERS SAY PITTSBURGH COUNTED OUT AGAINST 20 OTHER CITIES TODAY. MAYOR ED GAINEY SAYS PITTSBURGH IS READY TO HOST THE BIGGEST EVENT IN CITY HISTORY. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC, AND I AM MORE THAN SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL AS BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS, WE ARE I WILL. DO. I mean, I think it’s a golden opportunity. AND TOMORROW, THE NFL DRAFT HOST COMMITTEE PLANS TO ANNOUNCE ITS GAME PLAN TO HOST THE EVENT STARTING IN 2026. FOR NOW, POSTPONED
Pittsburgh to host 2026 NFL Draft
The NFL says the 2026 draft will incorporate elements of Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium.
Updated: 6:41 p.m. EDT May 22, 2024
The NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh in 2026. It could be the largest tourism event in the city’s history, with hundreds of thousands of people expected. ABOVE VIDEO: Steelers owner Art Rooney II talks about bringing the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh. “The location will most likely be just outside Acrisure Stadium and spill over into downtown,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said. As Rooney spoke of the excitement surrounding Pittsburgh’s project, he acknowledged the high bar that has been set by other host cities in recent years. Pennsylvania has a great tradition,” Rooney said. “The roots of professional football run deep in our region, which is why we plan to celebrate the Mike Ditkas, the Dan Marinos, the Joe Montanas, etc., who are from our region.” “When Pittsburgh’s bid was submitted, those involved in the process anticipated between 200,000 and 300,000 people. The 2024 draft in downtown Detroit set a new attendance record with more than 775,000 people. fans for the three-day event, which was expected to generate more than $160 million in economic impact across hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores. “I’m more than confident that we’ll be able to handle this, from public safety as well as businesses in the community,” Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday morning when asked about the possibility of an NFL draft in Pittsburgh. “Whatever we do to make it one of the best events, we’re going to make it happen. I think it’s a golden opportunity if we can land the project. “It doesn’t matter what city I go to , there’s always some sort of Steeler bar, Steeler restaurant. There are a lot of people who left here because of the collapse of the steel mills, and they went looking for better ways to make a living. I could only imagine that a grandmother or grandfather coming home to their grandchildren could show them why this city means so much to them, and why, even if they live in another city , Pittsburgh is their home. For them to be able to come back and show their grandchildren or great-grandchildren, I think it will be phenomenal. “A Pittsburgh host committee has submitted the bid to land the NFL Draft. It is led by the Steelers, VisitPittsburgh, Allegheny County and the state, along with a host of other organizations. VIDEO ABOVE : Inside Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft Bid Process and How It Followed Detroit’s Plan In April, the CEO of VisitPittsburgh told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the North Shore, next to Acrisure Stadium, was the he location that would make the most sense for a draft hosted by Pittsburgh One idea was to make the stadium the hub, placing the stage on the east side. Fans would gather along West General Robinson Street on at least two. blocks. North Shore Drive would also be part of the venue. Several blocks of Penn Avenue in the Cultural District would be part of the fan experience, as well as the Gateway Center and several blocks of Liberty Avenue. is great for the city, for everyone who has a business here, small businesses, everything, I can’t wait… It’s going to bring good vibes to Pittsburgh,” said Pittsburgh native Christian Kuntz. “It’s always been in a big city like Vegas or somewhere like that. Just for Yinzers to experience that, it’s going to be awesome.” Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, who announced Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was also excited about the news. “It’s awesome,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously it’s good for Pittsburgh, great for the local restaurants and bars, with the revenue and all that. It’s good to have fans from all over the world, from around the country, come here to Pittsburgh and experience the great city that it is.” The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh in 2026. It could be the largest tourism event in the city’s history, with hundreds of thousands of people expected.
ABOVE VIDEO: Steelers Owner Art Rooney II Talks Bringing the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh
The league made the announcement Wednesday during its spring meetings, saying the 2026 draft would 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 just outside Acrisure Stadium and extend into downtown,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said.
As Rooney spoke about the excitement surrounding Pittsburgh’s draft, 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 professional football run really deep in our area, which is why we plan to celebrate the Mike Ditkas, the Dan Marinos, the Joe Montanas, etc. who have come from our area.
“It will be extremely exciting, and we look forward to working with our community and making sure it’s a great event.”
When Pittsburgh’s application was submitted, those involved in the process anticipated between 200,000 and 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 is expected to generate more than $160 million in economic impact across hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores.
“I’m more than confident that we’ll be able to handle this, both public safety and businesses in the community,” Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday morning when asked about the possibility of an NFL draft in Pittsburgh . “Whatever we have to do to make it one of the best events, we’ll get there. I think it’s a golden opportunity if we can clinch the repechage.
“No matter what city I go to, there’s always some sort of Steeler bar, Steeler restaurant. There’s a lot of people who left here because of the collapse of the steel mills, and they went looking for best ways to make a living I couldn’t imagine a grandmother or grandfather coming home with their grandchildren being able to show them why this city means so much to them and why, even if they live. in another city, Pittsburgh is their home, for them to be able to come back and show their grandchildren or great-grandchildren, I think it will be phenomenal.”
A Pittsburgh host committee submitted the bid to land the NFL draft. It’s run by the Steelers, VisitPittsburgh, Allegheny County and the state, along with a host of other organizations.
ABOVE VIDEO: Inside Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft Bid Process and How It Followed Detroit’s Plan
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 center of the project, 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 part of the location.
Several blocks of Penn Avenue in the Cultural District would be part of the fan experience, along with the Gateway Center and several blocks of Liberty Avenue.
“It’s great for the city, for everyone who has a business here, small businesses, everything. I can’t wait. … It’s going to bring good vibes to Pittsburgh,” said longtime Pittsburgh player Christian Kuntz. Steelers, Pittsburgh native. “It’s always been in a big 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 in the 2024 NFL Draft, was also excited about the news.
“It’s awesome,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously it’s good for Pittsburgh, great for the local restaurants and bars, with the revenue and all that. It’s good to have fans from all over the world, from around the country, come here to Pittsburgh and experience the great city that it is.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.