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The countdown is on — 392 days until the 2026 NFL draft takes over Pittsburgh, and city officials are already calling it the biggest event in the city’s history.
“This is a game-changer for our region and a defining moment for Pittsburgh,” said Michele Meloy Burchfield of VisitPittsburgh told WPXI.
While it might still feel far off, behind the scenes, the city is buzzing with preparations. Between 500,000 to 700,000 fans are expected to descend on downtown Pittsburgh during draft weekend, according to Jerad Bachar of VisitPittsburgh.
Some early concept renderings were revealed this week, giving fans a first look at how the NFL draft might look in the Steel City. It’ll be the first draft with two main locations separated by a river — in classic Pittsburgh style.
Of course, that unique setup comes with challenges — namely, transportation and public safety. But officials are confident. “It’s going to be a very safe event for our city,” said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R.
Pulling this off is going to take serious manpower. Schooley says about 3,000 volunteers will be needed to help throughout draft weekend. Local colleges are already getting involved, and there’s no shortage of hometown pride.
And let’s not forget the spotlight. With over 50 million viewers expected to tune in on TV, this is a massive moment for the city’s image.
“They might not have known about Pittsburgh,” Schooley said, “but when they see it on TV … it allows us to attract even more big events in the future.”
Next up, a team from VisitPittsburgh is heading to Green Bay, Wis. to study how they run the 2025 draft. After that, though, it’s Pittsburgh’s time to shine.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2026 NFL draft set to be Pittsburgh’s biggest event ever
Continue reading...
“This is a game-changer for our region and a defining moment for Pittsburgh,” said Michele Meloy Burchfield of VisitPittsburgh told WPXI.
While it might still feel far off, behind the scenes, the city is buzzing with preparations. Between 500,000 to 700,000 fans are expected to descend on downtown Pittsburgh during draft weekend, according to Jerad Bachar of VisitPittsburgh.
Some early concept renderings were revealed this week, giving fans a first look at how the NFL draft might look in the Steel City. It’ll be the first draft with two main locations separated by a river — in classic Pittsburgh style.
Of course, that unique setup comes with challenges — namely, transportation and public safety. But officials are confident. “It’s going to be a very safe event for our city,” said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R.
Pulling this off is going to take serious manpower. Schooley says about 3,000 volunteers will be needed to help throughout draft weekend. Local colleges are already getting involved, and there’s no shortage of hometown pride.
And let’s not forget the spotlight. With over 50 million viewers expected to tune in on TV, this is a massive moment for the city’s image.
“They might not have known about Pittsburgh,” Schooley said, “but when they see it on TV … it allows us to attract even more big events in the future.”
Next up, a team from VisitPittsburgh is heading to Green Bay, Wis. to study how they run the 2025 draft. After that, though, it’s Pittsburgh’s time to shine.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2026 NFL draft set to be Pittsburgh’s biggest event ever
Continue reading...
