The stage is set, the city is ready — and the eyes of the football world will soon turn squarely on Pittsburgh.
It’s NFL Draft week, at long last.
The three-day event begins Thursday, transforming the North Shore and Downtown Pittsburgh into a sprawling festival of football, music and fanfare — marking the biggest event the Steel City has ever hosted. The extravaganza’s impact, though, has been felt in Western Pennsylvania for months.
From Point State Park to the North Shore, large structures have risen in recent weeks, including the draft theater next to Acrisure Stadium, where the live spectacle is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans.
Tourism agency Visit Pittsburgh predicted the three-day event will draw upward of 500,000 to 700,000 fans and generate an economic impact in the range of $120 million to $213 million. More than 1,800 credentialed media members are expected to cover the event.
City leaders, organizers and businesses say the moment has been years in the making.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime for all of us,” Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said. “We’re pretty confident this is going to be a great event.”
A citywide event
Spanning around 4 million square feet — or over 68 football fields — the draft footprint will stretch across the North Shore and Point State Park, where fans will gather for interactive experiences, concerts and watch parties.
Steve Farago, the NFL’s director of event operations, said the main walking route between the North Shore and Point State Park across the Allegheny River will be the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which will be closed to vehicle traffic.
The pedestrian walkway across the Fort Duquesne Bridge will be closed. Based on the high number of people attending the draft, who will be walking in both directions between the North Shore and Point State Park, officials determined the bridge’s walkway would not be safe, Farago said.
All fan experiences will be free and accessible through the NFL’s OnePass app, though entry to activities will largely operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Long lines are expected.
Security also will be omnipresent, with federal, state and local agencies coordinating to manage crowds.
Public safety officials announced safety preparations and security measures for the draft around two weeks ahead of its start, which include an increased police and EMS presence across the city.
The FBI will deploy hundreds of agents, analysts and support personnel throughout the region during draft week, officials said, emphasizing a coordinated security effort to protect residents and visitors.
“I just want to reassure the citizens of Western Pennsylvania that you are well-served by a coordinated security effort with this draft,” said Richard Evanchec, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office.
He said fans and local citizens will be the FBI’s greatest asset, urging people to say something if they see something amiss.
“If there is someone out there who is of concern or posting comments or planning some type of event here targeting the draft, we certainly want to be aware of that,” he said. “Don’t assume something is innocent; we have to assume that what we hear and see may have a nefarious purpose.”
Pittsburgh police Chief of Staff Anthony Palermo said he can’t reveal the city’s specific safety plans or number of officers. However, he said, there will be an increased law enforcement presence within and outside of the draft footprint.
“Security procedures similar to those on a Steelers game day will be in place,” he said.
Farago said the NFL will be monitoring the fans and potential overcrowding from the start of the event, alongside Pittsburgh Public Safety teams, making sure to have mitigation “contingency plans in place” if an area becomes unsafe or too crowded.
“We’ve had a good open line of communication; we get ahead of it so we can respond quickly,” he said. “In my mind, being proactive is the key there and addressing any issues before they become a bigger issue.
“We’re all in the same room together making those decisions — getting ahead of anything that may be bubbling up.”
Opportunities for some
Beyond the spectacle, the draft represents an economic opportunity for the region. Alongside restaurants and bars staffing up within the draft footprint, local businesses selected for contracts with the NFL are prepping as well.
Michael Pattillo, owner of the local business Michael’s Manna, which does business as Michael’s Table PGH, was selected through the NFL Draft Source Program as a private chef for several key areas.
He’ll serve the commissioners’ green room, ESPN, Nike and the draft control theater, where staff manage calls and information in real time.
“I’m a proud Pittsburgher … I don’t know that I had like a true sense of pride for the city until I was selected for this — something clicked in my mind,” said Pattillo, 42, of Brookline. “Wow, I could really create a legacy here.
“The fact that I’m touching such high-level executives of the NFL during that time, what that could look like to all of the visitors in the city seeing my brand, it was like a door opened.”
On the menu during the three days of the draft will be a smoked chicken dish, scallops, branzini and more, Pattillo said.
“It’s basically going to function like a full-service restaurant, (with a) menu that’s four courses and then options for those four courses except for the appetizer,” he said. “I’m proud to be a part of this; it’s a huge opportunity.”
A classically trained chef for more than 15 years, he started his business in 2022, and he also now has a spice brand called Maestro Chef Products, which will be sold at the NFL Draft Makers Market.
“There’s a fan-facing farmers market that I was invited to be a part of,” Pattillo said. “That is going to be located right around Acrisure Stadium.”
Several Black businesses have criticized the vendor selection process leading up to the NFL Draft, as reported by TribLive.
Pattillo said his Black-owned business was one of 168 selected through the source program, including about 30 in food service.
He added the group reflects a wide mix of local businesses, including women-, Hispanic-, Asian-, veteran- and LGBTQ-owned companies.
“I’m still elated and even floored that I have this opportunity,” he said. “I’m very grateful.”
Fan experience
It’s been three years since Brian Lorenzato visited his hometown of Bethel Park. He’ll be making his return to Pittsburgh from Alabama to attend the NFL Draft with stepsister Tracy Hofmann, of California, and brother Cory, of Florida.
“We’re doing a little reunion and going down to the draft,” Lorenzato said. “We’ve been talking about this for the past couple months. I’m just looking forward to coming home for a bit.”
Lorenzato, 55, grew up in Bethel Park until moving to Florida in his later childhood years. His job as a postmaster led him to settle in Spanish Fort, Ala., in 2012. He has lived there since.
About two months ago, he and his siblings decided the NFL Draft was the perfect opportunity to visit Pittsburgh and see each other again. It will be the first time in about five years that they will be together all at once.
“You get us all together, and it’s definitely entertaining,” he said. “We’re a fun group.”
Lorenzato and his siblings will be staying in Bethel Park with family. If they can help it, he said, they’re going to avoid driving. They purchased the NFL trolley pass to go to and from the festivities.
Not everyone wants to fight the crowds and the unknown of the draft in Pittsburgh.
Harley Gustashaw plans to skip the event despite an invitation from a friend.
“I do not want to deal with the traffic Downtown because I will probably have a panic attack in the middle of the highway,” said Gustashaw, 27, of North Huntingdon. “So I’ll just stay in my East Pittsburgh suburb.”
Though she’s not a big sports fan, she usually takes the chance to go Downtown and enjoy events when she’s invited — just not this time.
“I know a couple people who are going,” Gustashaw said. “I feel like a lot of people from here just don’t want to deal with the city traffic, or they’re just not into football, so they don’t care.
“If they are going, they like being in the city, so it’s not that hard for them to drag themselves out there.”
Instead, Gustashaw said she will be attending a draft-themed party next Saturday.
“We’re still doing stuff that’s festive and kind of themed around the draft because it is fun,” she said. “That way, we don’t have to lug ourselves into the city.”
Logistics and challenges
With the influx of visitors comes inevitable disruption.
Road closures, parking restrictions and public transit adjustments will reshape how residents navigate the city for several days. Officials have urged people to plan ahead, use public transportation when possible and expect delays.
Even seasoned event planners acknowledge the scale is unprecedented for Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh is no stranger to hosting major events, and this plan reflects that experience. We’ve worked closely with partners across the region to create a coordinated, multi-modal approach that makes getting around straightforward and reliable — whether you’re coming Downtown for the draft or going about your daily routine,” said Jerad Bachar, president & CEO of Visit Pittsburgh.
To accommodate thousands of visitors, the three-day event will feature frequent light rail service, adjusted bus routes, park-and-ride options outside the city, designated pedestrian corridors and a network of road and bridge closures designed to keep access smooth, according to the regional transportation plan.
Included in the plan are four special express bus service routes, which will be in operation during NFL Draft week to help move fans to the event areas.
Yet, if there are concerns, they are largely outweighed by anticipation.
“We just want people to have a good time. Be patient,” O’Connor said. “We want this to be Pittsburgh’s draft — not the NFL’s. It’s ours.”
A national spotlight
The draft has evolved into one of the NFL’s marquee offseason events, drawing millions of viewers and increasingly large in-person crowds each year. Detroit, Green Bay and Kansas City have hosted in recent years, each putting their own stamp on the event.
Now, it’s Pittsburgh’s turn.
And in a city defined by its football heritage, from the Steelers’ Steel Curtain era to its six Super Bowl titles, the draft carries an added layer of meaning.
When the first pick is announced and the crowd roars along the rivers, it won’t just signal the start of a new NFL chapter. For Pittsburgh, it marks a long-anticipated moment — and an opportunity to showcase the city’s civic pride on a global stage.
“We are all going to benefit long after, from Arts Landing to Market Square, to trails, to various things like that,” O’Connor said. “We as Pittsburghers get the bonus of all that investment.
“The draft is three days. Pittsburgh’s going to be here long after the draft.”
Megan Swift and Haley Daugherty are TribLive staff writers. Megan can be reached at mswift@triblive.com, Haley at hdaugherty@triblive.com. Staff writer Julia Burdelski contributed to this report.