As fans flood Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore during the NFL Draft, there’s one thing that hopefully won’t be flooding: all of the portable toilets.
From trash to smell to even potential physical altercations, there are plenty of pitfalls to porta-potties. Having somewhere to go on the go is crucial, but there are some simple ways to make the experience better for you and your fellow revelers.
David Kropf is the director of operations for Mr. John Portable Toilets, a local company that provides restrooms within a 60-mile radius of the city. You can find their bathrooms in parks and construction sites around the city, and while there aren’t yet exact numbers of expected porta-potties planned for the NFL Draft as of this writing, the company will be providing around 500 toilets for the event.
“First and foremost, use the portable toilets as intended,” Kropt said. “It’s one thing for when the event’s over for us to come and there’s garbage all over the place, but it’s really for the user experience as well.”
He pointed out that leaving trash, including cans and wrappers, inside the porta-potties will only make things worse for everyone.
“We service during the event, and that’s the first thing that I think of,” he said.
When it comes to etiquette, why not go to the experts? LaShawn Means is the founder of Evolve Etiquette Consulting, an organization that endeavors to enhance manners in social and professional situations. She said that the rule for public restrooms is a familiar one: leave it better than you found it.
“Cleaning up after yourself is what’s really important,” she said.
But as Pittsburgh country music fans know, mess isn’t the only concern when waiting in line for the bathroom at a concert or event. In August 2023, a confrontation occurred at a bank of porta-potties outside a Morgan Wallen concert at PNC Park. College student Delanie DiSabato, the self-proclaimed ”Romper Stomper,” went viral online after a video of her physically and vehemently defending her mother racked up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.
DiSabato said in a Barstool Sports interview after the altercation that it began after she unintentionally cut in line for the bathroom.
She and the other women in the video may have benefited from Means’ most important piece of advice: “When you’re dealing with large crowds, I would say patience. Patience and consideration for others are my top priorities because everyone is in the same situation, right?”
Means also said that mentally preparing for big crowds, especially at a packed event like the NFL Draft, goes a long way to putting people in the right frame of mind.
“Everyone is in the same boat,” she said. “We don’t want any fights breaking out. Just take your turn and be considerate.”
Kropf said that there are industry standards that dictate how many toilets should be set up at events, depending on how long they’ll be in use, if alcohol is being served and other factors. Whether they’re individual units or trailers with stalls, an adequate number should be available.
“There are going to be lots of toilets on the North Shore,” Kropf said. “So be patient, read the signs of where the restrooms are.”
Hopefully, a little kindness, consideration and cleanup can prevent any viral bathroom moments from this year’s Draft.