Are you ready for some football?
The three-day super spectacle that is the 2026 NFL Draft is finally here. It kicked off Thursday in Downtown and the North Shore.
Over the next few days as the NFL’s 32 teams select young talent to join their ranks, careers will be made, contracts will be signed and future champions will step to the podium when their names are called to thunderous applause.
First-round picks will happen beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, with the Steelers selecting 21st. Additional rounds will be held Friday and Saturday.
7:10 p.m. Rivers Casino drops parking prices
Rivers Casino, which is located just a six minute walk in Pittsubrghfrom Acrisure Stadium, announced that it is lowering the price of parking on Thursday and Friday from $250 down to $100 per day.
Casino officials said the effective use of public transportation, rideshare services and means of commuting into downtown had relaxed the demand for parking spaces.
“Our intention is to ensure we always maintain enough spaces for our team members and guests while welcoming visitors in town for the draft,” the casino said in a news release.
Parking space rates for Saturday were still being finalized, Thursday afternoon.
Rivers Casino earlier announced that fans could purchase in advance a four-day parking package for the draft for $500 plus taxes and fees, which will include full 24/7 in/out privileges.
6:55 p.m. ESPN broadcasting live
While many fans have claimed their spots as close to the NFL Draft stage as possible, others are facing in the other direction to get a view of the live pregame shows on ESPN and other networks.
With the stage and Acrisure Stadium far off in the background, ESPN’s “College Gameday” and “The Pat McAfee Draft Spectacular” have drawn large crowds to be in live shots during the telecasts and livestreams.
NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) will go live for the first round selections at 8 p.m.
Coach Cowher firing up the crowd as the first round of the NFL Draft nears. Pat McAfee is by his side. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/n9bLIHZKAg
— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) April 23, 2026
— Jack Troy
6:50 p.m.: Don’t stay away
Jesse and Amy Townsend, who live in Greensburg, said they were the only ones among their friends to venture into the city Thursday for the NFL Draft due to fears of shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and traffic.
But their friends’ hesitation didn’t stop them from making the trek.
“I’m disappointed that some people aren’t realizing what we have here and aren’t taking the opportunity,” said Jesse Townsend, 50, while enjoying the scene at Point State Park.
— Megan Trotter
6:25 p.m.: Friends launch ‘beer bong’ product
Three friends from Michigan wandered Pittsburgh’s North Side on Thursday, bringing their inebriation innovation to the masses.
Eric Peterson, Justin Riedl and Nick McClain were on the hunt around noon for tailgaters outside the 2026 NFL Draft Experience willing to drop $25 on a football-shaped “beer bong.” The plastic pigskin has two holes: one on the side for pouring beer and another on the nose for drinking it as fast as possible.
The ChugDown, as it’s known, has only been on the market for a few weeks.
“This is kind of our big launch,” Peterson said while wearing a mesh backpack full of his product.
— Jack Troy
4:10 p.m.: PNC Park open to fans
In case you weren’t aware, PNC Park has opened its doors to fans on the North Shore.
Walk in, grab some food — Fat Head’s is open! — and use the restrooms if you need to.
It’s a great chance for Pittsburghers and out-of-towners to get a great view of one of Major League Baseball’s best ballparks.
We found out PNC Park is open to fans — they can walk in, get refreshments and use the restroom @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/hx0ukZoa4a
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) April 23, 2026
— Megan Swift
3:40 p.m.: Autograph lines
Lines began forming as fans waited to meet their favorite players, get autographs and snap photos.
“I want to meet my future QB1 in Will Howard. I want to let him know that, you know, Steeler Nation’s got his back 110%, regardless of, you know, anything that happens with Aaron Rodgers,” said Matt Tristan, 31, of Penn Hills.
@triblive Football fans wait in line for signatures from players. ???? #nfl#pittsburgh#pittsburghsteelers#draft♬ original sound – TribLive
Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, quarterback Will Howard and running back Rico Dowdle are scheduled to meet fans.
— Megan Trotter
3:33 p.m.: Other kinds of celeb sightings
In addition to the more well-known faces fans have been spotting around town today, we glimpsed some other faces, like none other than Sauerkraut Saul …
Celebrity sighting! Sauerkraut Saul is in the North Shore @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/ISRcoKhuOB
— haley daugherty (@halzdoc) April 23, 2026
… and Pope Yinzer and Pittsburgh Jesus …
… and then there was the Steel Phantom himself.
Michael Chesky, AKA the Steel Phantom. He’s been signing and handing out custom Terrible Towels to young Steelers fans at the NFL Draft. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/7ERNzYaidr
— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) April 23, 2026
3:08 p.m.: Surprise pick
North Huntingdon resident Jason Lust, 46, and his son, Koby Lust, 11, tried their luck at a helmet guessing game run by Fanatics Authentic.
“If their team were to come out of this mystery helmet box, they would get it for a fraction of the price,” said Noah Lyons, Fanatics Authentic employee.
Koby pulled a helmet signed by former Warren Moon of the Houston Oilers. “We needed the Bills or the Colts, but the Oilers one is still cool,” Koby said.
North Huntingdon resident Jason Lust and his son Koby tried a mystery helmet guessing game from Fanatics Authentic.
Koby pulled a Warren Moon Houston Oilers helmet. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/VXKee2bCTX
— Megan Trotter (@meganktrotter) April 23, 2026
— Megan Trotter
2:45 p.m.: And the band played on
A small crowd has gathered in front of the Steelers’ Steeline drum line in Steelers Country at Point State Park, with fans stopping to watch and take in the energy.
A small crowd has gathered in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steeline drum line in Steelers Country at Point State Park, with fans stopping to watch and take in the energy. Video via @jbertucci21 for @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/fOiGhHaLjh
— Megan Trotter (@meganktrotter) April 23, 2026
— Megan Trotter
2:41 p.m.: Mayor O’Connor’s pleased
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said things are running smoothly so far with the NFL Draft in the city.
“I think it’s been good,” he said Thursday among the throngs of fans in town.
He said Pittsburghers are doing a great job of showing up as ambassadors for the city.
“They’re comin’ in. They’re takin the bus, the T, Ubers. However they get down here it’s great for all of us,” O’Connor said. “Molly’s Trolleys has been loopin’ around. Everybody’s doin’ their thing to get down here and celebrate.”
So far so good on day one of the NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor says. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/kGiGitZ0u8
— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) April 23, 2026
The mayor said the event is showing how great the city is for prospective businesses.
“We’ve had some conferences and we’ve spoke to groups surprised by Pittsburgh, and I think that’s what we wanted. That’s why we’re talking to them about bringing opportunities here for our residents.”
— Jack Troy
2:18 p.m.: Mix ’n match
What fans are wearing is just as interesting as any NFL event they have going on today.
Jonathan Smolensky, 24, of the South Side was seen wearing a split Aaron Rodgers jersey — with one half New York Jets and the other half Steelers.
“Grew up in New Jersey, came here for school — went to Pitt,” he said, explaining the origins of the item. “And my roommate’s girlfriend sewed this together.”
He said his roommate has the other version of the split jersey — with the sides reversed.
Jonathan Smolensky, 24, of South Side is a little torn between his New Jersey and Pittsburgh connections. And if you’re wondering, he thinks it’s time for the Black and Gold to move on from Rodgers. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/Xm4vdsvN1e
— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) April 23, 2026
And if you’re wondering, he thinks it’s time for the black and gold to move on from Rodgers.
— Jack Troy
2:14 p.m.: Arriving in droves
More and more fans are making their way into Downtown Pittsburgh.
A recent look at Gateway Station showed what seemed to be an endless flow of fans up the escalator from the T.
Football fans are pouring off the T by the hundreds at Gateway Station in Downtown Pittsburgh. @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/rJ7Z56uUsL
— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) April 23, 2026
— Jack Troy
2:01 p.m.: Cool beans
Kimberly Simanski, 56, and her son Nathan, 17, made the two-hour drive into Pittsburgh from Allentown on Wednesday night.
“We stayed Downtown and walked here,” Kimberly Simanski said.
Nathan, a passionate fan, had quite the morning. He met Makai Lemon, a wide receiver from the University of South Carolina and first-round draft prospect, in a Starbucks.
“It was really cool,” Nathan said.
Simanski said their time in the city has been a positive one.
“It’s been a great experience so far,” Simanski said. “Everyone’s been really friendly and really nice. Very cool.”
— Haley Daugherty
1:54 p.m.: Medical issue
Emergency Medical Services crews responded to the food area at Point State Park’s NFL Draft Experience around 1:30 p.m.
A child waiting in line overheated while trying to get food. An EMS officer said the child was in stable condition after briefly sitting down.
Temperatures were just under 80 degrees Thursday afternoon.
— Megan Trotter
1:43 p.m.: Shuttling to the Draft
Tom Pingor, 68, of Munhall arrived at Monroeville Mall around 10:20 a.m. to catch a shuttle to the NFL Draft. “It was really quick … not much traffic coming inward,” he said. “The whole process only took minutes.”
Once at the mall, he was able to board the first shuttle he saw.
“There was a line, we got on, we got into town — the whole process from Monroeville to here took about 30 minutes.”
Pingor said he had used the shuttles from there during the U.S. Open as well.
— Megan Swift
1:24 p.m.: Pricey brews
Football fans had mixed reviews over the affordability of drinks within the draft experience.
The Steelers Nation Unite Bar inside Steelers Country at Point State Park was charging $19.75 for Bud Light and Michelob Ultra.
Andrew Baird, who lives in Center Township in Beaver County, said he thought the prices were outrageous but not too much higher than what he was anticipating.
“I wasn’t so shocked, honestly, though. But it threw me off a little bit. Now I don’t want to drink as much,” Baird, 27, said.
Ben Ingraham, 47, of Kalamazoo, Mich., traveled to Pittsburgh for the draft.
Ingraham attended the NFL Draft in Detroit in 2024. He said prices between the two events were comparable.
“I mean, they’re not that bad,” Ingraham said. “I was expecting stadium prices, you know, almost 20 bucks a beer. It’s not that bad.”
— Megan Trotter
1:05 p.m. That’s the spirit
At least one alcohol vendor embraced the spirit of the day early.
“You can’t drink all day, guys, if you don’t start now – ICE COLD!” the man, clad in a fluorescent yellow T-shirt, shouted.
Nearby, a 25-ounce can of “American beer” — Bud Light, Michelob Ultra — cost $19.75. A “premium beer,” the same size — Kona Big Wave, Stella Artois — fetched $21.25.
Food prices also dug deep into the wallet. At Steel Kitchen, a food vendor fronted with 25 waiting cash registers, a cheeseburger on a potato roll went for $14.50, a bottle of Aquafina-brand water, $7. Nobody was in line around 12:30 p.m.
— Justin Vellucci
12:50 p.m.: Police presence
Police were present, but as sparse as the still-forming crowd inside the NFL Draft’s North Shore footprint shortly after noon.
Marked vehicles were prominently displayed: Pittsburgh police, Allegheny County Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Beaver County Sheriff’s Office.
Police huddled almost entirely near entrances and chokepoints. Five uniformed Pittsburgh police officers leaned on an entrance gate, monitoring the crowd on West General Robinson Street near the East Premium Credential gate. Three more stood a stone’s throw from rows of the gate’s metal detectors.
A group of three uniformed officers roamed the largely empty North Shore grounds around 12:30 p.m. Seven Pittsburgh police officers, six of them on bikes, stood monitoring the intersection of Tony Dorsett Drive and West General Robinson as crowds filtered onto draft grounds.
— Justin Vellucci
12:39 p.m.: Doggone it
April Tan, 52, of Rockville, Md., opted to stay outside of the official draft footprint, relaxing along Riverfront Park on the North Shore with her dog, Lucy, a 5-year-old Cavapoo.
Lucy wore a dog-sized Steelers jersey and a Terrible Towel collar.
Several fans stopped to greet the pup.
“It’s very exciting just seeing all the fans from different teams,” said Tan, whose husband, a lifelong Steelers fan, was entering the event. “There’s a lot going on.”
— Julia Burdelski
12:31 p.m.: The surge is on
Fans surged to the entrances as the gates opened at noon.
At the Riverfront Park entrance, a mass of people slowly worked their way through several lines of metal detectors.
Draft staff urged people to have their OnePass apps ready and finish drinking any beverages that wouldn’t be permitted into the footprint.
Some fans — many wearing black and gold and others wearing a smattering of other teams’ jerseys — cheered as they neared the gates.
— Julia Burdelski
12:02 p.m.: Gates are open
The experience is underway.
The long lines that had formed on the North Shore and outside of Point State Park began to move and fans slowly made their way into the respective arenas.
11:56 a.m.: Like father, like son
Father and son Corey and Tyler Schwartz, who were among the many gathered outside the Point, said they made the trip from California.
Tyler, 15, is a Steelers fan and was longing to see the city. He said he became a fan after the Steelers were his team on “Madden Mobile.”
“They were really good in a video game I played a while ago,” Tyler said.
The two spent Thursday morning hanging out in Market Square before getting in line a little over an hour before gates opened.
“It’s been nice,” Schwartz said.
— Haley Daugherty
11:46 a.m.: Good vibes all around
They call themselves the N.Y. Vibe Tribe.
Hailing from the Buffalo area, the quintet of Garrett Klusek and Gabriel White of Rochester, Jeff Klusek and Alex Fisher of Syracuse, and Jeremy Klusek of Buffalo gathered along with hundreds of other fans just outside of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh to gain entrance into the NFL Fan Experience.
“We’re just vibin,’” Garrett Klusek said.
It’s the first draft for the friends and family.
The Tribe said they drove five hours down for the day trip and expect to get back home in New York around 3 a.m.
— Joyce Hanz
Oversized Steelers representative Super Bowl rings bring the bling (on display)at Point State Park on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. @TribLIVE @NFLDraftOG @steelers pic.twitter.com/SofEQABDei
— Reporter Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) April 23, 2026
11:01 a.m.: Market Square buzzing
Market Square — fresh off of a facelift that was unveiled Wednesday — is welcoming fans with a DJ, vendors and photo opportunities.
Displays show former draft picks. Some shops are selling food and drinks on the sidewalks.
Ashley Becker, 34, of Altoona and her father, Glen Becker, 64, of Akron, Ohio, said it was their first stop as they arrived Thursday morning.
The pair posed for a photo under a display meant to resemble Pittsburgh’s iconic yellow bridges.
“There’s a lot to do,” Ashley Becker said.
Glen Becker said he’s a “die-hard” Steelers fan and has been his entire life.
The pair said their trip into the city went smoothly. They think the city looks good so far. “It definitely looks cleaner than usual,” said Ashley, who added they frequently come to the city for Steelers games.
— Julia Burdelski
10:54 a.m.: Lines growing longer
Gates don’t open until noon, but the lines to get into the NFL Draft staging area are growing longer as the morning passes.
Gates don’t open until noon but lines are forming on the North Shore hours before as fans get ready to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.@TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/rTCiq89Ptz
— Julia Burdelski (@JuliaBurdelski) April 23, 2026
10:43 a.m.: First timers
This will be Troy Matheney’s first NFL Draft. And the Grove City, Ohio, resident is pumped.
He’s looking forward to who his favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs, will select with the ninth and 29th picks.
The energy is “as high as you can get,” he said, donning Native American headgear.
A construction worker, Matheney said he drove in this morning and paid $85 for parking for his one day of fun.
He said he’s enjoying “the camaraderie of the whole NFL and … expectations of being able to improve our teams with each pick.”
Scott Soucie, Jessie Rardon, Angie Soucie and Brent Rardon are in town from Omaha, Neb. They are avid Steelers fans.
The out-of-towners also are attending their first draft. They got in line at 7:30 a.m. outside of Acrisure Stadium.
“I feel a little nervous because we don’t know who the Steelers will draft,” Brent Rardon said. “It could be upsetting, or it could be thrilling. I would like a wide receiver personally.”
— Joyce Hanz
10:03 a.m.: At the front (of the) lines
Lines to get inside the draft staging area were forming before 9 a.m.
Fans — predominantly donning black and gold — already were mingling on the North Shore and outside of Point State Park. Some stopped to take photos from the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which is closed to traffic and serving as the primary pedestrian route between the two portions of the draft footprint.
Kelly Stevens, 41, of Bethel Park was at the front of the line at a riverside entrance to the draft on the North Shore, along with her 16-year-old son Hunter.
The pair described themselves as true fans who often attend the Steelers’ training camps and games. “Dad will deal with football, but I’m the true fan,” Kelly Stevens quipped, adding that she and her son enjoy taking in football events together.
The pair caught the T bright and early and arrived around 8 a.m. They were surprised to find themselves at the front of the line. “We actually can’t believe there aren’t more people here,” Kelly Stevens said.
Hunter said he’s expecting crowds to grow later in the day.
Eager to see who the Steelers select, Hunter said his hopes are on Makai Lemon from the University of Southern California.
Mack Lewis, 28, of Plum was standing at the start of the next lane through the gates. He didn’t realize gates didn’t open till noon and expected to be able to get into the event earlier.
He told TribLive he was eager to get inside, see the athletes who will be making appearances and meet out-of-town football fans.
He particularly is excited to see out-of-towners enjoy his hometown. “That’s pretty awesome,” he said.
Mike Murray, 53, of Westwood arrived at the North Shore around 7:30 a.m.
He didn’t expect he’d be first in line, yet he scored a spot at the very front of a queue forming at the riverfront entrance. “I’m very excited for this opportunity because Pittsburgh is such a beautiful city to have this draft in,” he told TribLive. “Being from Pittsburgh, it’s an honor to be here. It’s a blessing.”
Murray has been waiting for this day since NFL officials announced Pittsburgh would host the draft.
Wearing a 2026 NFL Draft T-shirt with a Terrible Towel sticking out from his pocket, Murray reminisced on watching the Steelers with his late grandfather as a child. He’s been a fan ever since.
He said the Steelers’ legacy and the draft help improve Pittsburgh’s profile. It “puts Pittsburgh on the map,” he said.
Ray and Doug Somerville, 39 and 70, respectively, drove in from Bellaire, Ohio. The father and son have a shared love of football and matching black and gold draft ballcaps.
The duo was excited to find themselves there Ton hursday morning. “We’ll see how close we can get,” Ray said.
Ray said his first impression of Pittsburgh as the host city: “Everybody seems to be nice.”
Jacob Sanchez made the trek from Detroit, driving four hours Wednesday night.
Sanchez, 23, isn’t a Lions fan, though. He’s a Green Bay Packers fan, evident by the Green Bay jersey and cheesehead hat.
Sanchez attended the last two NFL Drafts. “Hopefully this one lives up to the hype,” he said. “The last two were unreal.”
He said he came to Pittsburgh with a game plan.
Step one: secure a spot at the front of the line, which he accomplished by 9 a.m. Once the gates open at noon, he hopes to implement the next two phases: Rush to the merchandise area to buy a 2026 NFL Draft hat and find a good spot in front of the stage to watch the selections.
He said he saves fan experience events and meet-and-greets for Days 2 and 3, so he can focus on having a good spot near the stage for the first round.
Mike Poydence, 34, of Plum was sipping on a beer near the front of the line. His draft experience was off to a good start. He had a smooth ride to North Side and tucked his car into a parking spot at nearby Nova Place for only $12.
“I love it,” he said of the draft experience so far. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I think Steelers Nation is amazing.”
Poydence said he’s eager to chat with other fans. He already had struck up conversations with some people from out of town.
Poydence said he has been a Steelers fan his entire life. His grandfather is a season-ticket holder and often takes him to games, a tradition that dates back to the days of Three Rivers Stadium.
His hope is that the Steelers will trade for a higher draft pick to spark some excitement for the hometown fans.
— Julia Burdelski
9:13 a.m.: To the front of the line
Ed Fatula, smiling under a black and gold Steelers cowboy hat, found himself at the very front of the line at the draft’s Tony Dorsett Drive entrance on the North Shore.
“I didn’t expect to be first in line,” Fatula, 48, said. “It’s exciting. I like to be with the fanatics.”
Fatula grew up in DuBois but now lives in Ellicott City, Md. He’s a lifelong Steelers fan, complete with a man cave in his home.
He arrived on the North Shore around 7:30 a.m. He had been in the area for pre-draft festivities Wednesday night. “So far, the crowds were less than expected,” he said.
Fatula said he’s hoping to get as close to the draft stage as possible and is eager to take it all in during his first draft experience.
— Julia Burdelski
8:21 a.m.: Weather conditions
With temperatures in the upper 50s and a bright sun in the nearly clear sky, the first morning of the draft is looking pretty good.
WTAE meteorologist Ashley Dougherty says the forecast for today and Friday will be “terrific with comfortable temperatures in the low 80s during the day. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies will be with us today with clouds increasing on Friday as we watch the approach of another cold front.”
Dougherty says a pop-up shower can’t be ruled out Friday, especially North and East of Pittsburgh, but most of the region should remain dry.
Here's a look at your morning conditions, temperatures, and radar around Western PA along with your forecast for the rest of the day! #pawxpic.twitter.com/e11EUBT2LO
— Brian Hutton Jr. (@BrianHuttonWTAE) April 23, 2026
Find out more on the weather forecast here.
7:45 a.m.: From the other side of the river
Mike Abraham, 46, of Canonsburg brought his stepson Jordan O’Connor, 15, to the draft early. They arrived around 5 a.m.
“The way they pumped up road closures and everything, we didn’t know what we were going to run into,” he said.
But they didn’t have any trouble getting there.
The pair joined Maxwell Elliott, 23, of Dover as the first people in line at Point State Park. The trio joked they’re now best friends and line buddies.
“I thought it was going to be hectic,” said Elliott, who caught the T near Bethel Park to avoid traffic.
He said he’s figuring it’ll still grow hectic later in the day, though it was fairly quiet so far.
Abraham said he’s hopeful they’ll have plenty of time to enjoy fan experience events and still snag a spot near the stage when the first picks are called.
“The setup looks really nice,” Elliott said.
Abraham said he was eager to see what the Point looked like after its recent upgrades. He thought the facelift at Market Square looked nice but noticed some graffiti scrawled on the bridges, despite significant cleanup efforts around the event.
O’Connor and Elliott said they’re rooting for the Steelers to pick a receiver tonight. Abraham has his sights set on a linebacker.
Garrett Schultz, 22, of York arrived in Pittsburgh for the draft around 5 am.
“We just want to get in,” he said, adding he was surprised crowds weren’t bigger already.
Wearing Baltimore Ravens gear, he said he’d been heckled four times by around 7:00@TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/Nn1gyCGiP0
— Julia Burdelski (@JuliaBurdelski) April 23, 2026
— Julia Burdelski
7:20 a.m.: Ravens fan among early arrivals
Garrett Schultz, 20, of York arrived in Pittsburgh around 5 a.m.
“We just want to get in,” he said, adding he thought there would be more fans lining up already.
He and his friends — wearing jerseys representing various teams — said they’re eager to see the first picks.
Schultz said he figured the draft wouldn’t be anywhere this close again for a long time so he wanted to make sure to take it in.
Though he was happy to be in the Steel City, Schultz was donning Baltimore Ravens attire.
“I already got heckled four times on the way here already,” he laughed as he made his way across the Clemente Bridge to the North Shore.
— Julia Burdelski
7:10 a.m.: Early international visitor
Tony Morano, 50, paused to snap a photo of the picturesque view from the Roberto Clemente Bridge around 7 a.m. He marveled at the view of PNC Park and the rivers.
“Gorgeous, this is great scenery,” Morano said.
He drove about five hours from Windsor in Canada on Wednesday evening.
It’s his first time in Pittsburgh — but not his first time at the NFL’s biggest offseason event. He was at the last three drafts, too.
The draft is typically full of “fun, excitement, lots of people with different jerseys,” Morano said, showing off a Giants jersey.
“Everybody gets along,” he said of his prior draft experiences. “It’s phenomenal.”
He’s learned a thing or two from previous experiences. He brought a shopping bag loaded with snacks because he likes to go in with a full stomach, prepared for a long day.
And he knew to arrive well before gates open at noon. “You’ve got to come early if you want to get close,” Morano said.
His main goal this year is to snag an autograph from Ryan Clark, whose jersey he was wearing underneath his Giants attire.
Morano said he had a positive first impression of Pittsburgh. “It’s beautiful,” he said.
— Julia Burdelski
6:45 a.m.: Fans arrive early
Cooper Keener, 17, of Fairmont, W.Va., drove about 90 minutes to take in the draft with his grandfather.
He arrived on the North Shore at 6:30 a.m. to check out the NFL Draft Experience setup.
“It’ll probably be the only time I’ll be able to come in my lifetime,” Keener said.
He’s hoping the Steelers pick an offensive lineman in the first round.
Keener said he’s also anticipating long lines. They got to town early, hoping to be near the start of the queue — after they grab a bite for breakfast.
“It’ll be a great experience,” he told TribLive.
Jake Wagner, 20, of Dormont was also among the early risers. A group of friends jumped on the T — which is ferrying fans to and from the draft for free all weekend — and made it to the North Shore by 6:30 a.m. “to try to get ahead of the crowd.”
“We succeeded, I guess,” he said, eyeing the area.
Few fans were mingling in North Shore so early, though Wagner said he’s expecting the crowds to be massive and difficult to navigate later in the day.
He and his friends hope to “get as close as possible” to the draft action. They’re hoping their early arrival plants them at the front of the line.
“I’m excited to experience it,” he said of the draft. “It’s the first time it’s ever been here, and we had to be here.”
Wagner, showing off his Steelers jersey, said he’s hoping the home team trades up for a higher first round pick. Currently, the Steelers are slated to make the 21st overall pick.
— Julia Burdelski