Day One of the NFL Draft Experience turned Point State Park into a steady hum of heat, excitement and hometown pride, as football fans packed in for a sun-soaked event marked by long lines, heavy sunscreen and high anticipation for what the next era of football might bring.
Despite temperatures in the low 80s and waits for food and activities, the mood stayed upbeat, anchored by a shared pride in Pittsburgh hosting one of the league’s marquee events.
Jesse and Amy Townsend, who live in Greensburg, said they were the only ones among their friends to venture into the city for the draft. Others stayed home over fears of shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and traffic.
But their friends’ hesitation didn’t stop them from piling on the Pittsburgh pride and 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.
When the gates at Point State Park opened at noon, there was no sense of impatience or a mad rush into the footprint. The crowds that filtered through the draft experience site moseyed their way around the 12,000-square-foot “Steelers Country” fan hub.
The park remained busy throughout the day, with fans lingering on the grass and around the fountain before crossing the Allegheny River toward the draft stage footprint.
A popular spot within the park was the Steelers Nation Unite Bar inside Steelers Country. Fans sheltered from the sun, claiming standing tables under the pop-up bar’s roof.
Some fans had mixed reviews of the affordability of drinks within the draft experience.
The bar charged $19.75 for 25-ounce cans of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra.
Andrew Baird, who lives in Center Township in Beaver County, said he thought the prices were outrageous but, in the end, not much higher than 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.”
While most fans wore Steelers black and gold, there were some Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns fans in the mix.
Elizabeth Township resident Robert Marsch and his wife, Brooke, brought their 3-month-old daughter, Peyton, to experience the draft.
Robert Marsch wore Peyton in a baby carrier on his chest. She was decked out in a white sun hat and slathered in sunscreen.
“Why not bring a baby?” said Robert Marsch, 32. “She travels everywhere with us. We’re big travelers, so just because we had a kid, we’re not slowing down.”
Despite Robert Marsch wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey, the couple agreed that Peyton would be raised a Steelers fan like her mom.
“Mom did all the work to have her, so she can choose,” Robert Marsch said.
Lines at the food stations stretched halfway across the grass at their peak. The draft experience had limited seating near the Point State Park fountain. Once the picnic tables and lawn chairs filled up, fans began settling into the grass.
Die-hard Steelers fans waited in long lines for a glimpse of players, to get autographs and to snap photos.
Adam Jones, 37, of North Hills said he hoped to meet Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith but was not optimistic about reaching the front of the line within the window of time Highsmith would be meeting fans.
But Jones said he was excited to see whichever player ended up under the autograph tent once he reached the front of the line.
Highsmith, quarterback Will Howard and running back Rico Dowdle were scheduled to meet fans.
“I want to meet my future QB1 in Will Howard. I want to let him know that … Steeler Nation’s got his back 110%, regardless of, you know, anything that happens with Aaron Rodgers,” said Matt Tristan, 31, of Penn Hills.
Some fans moved about the footprint with painted faces showing visual loyalty to their teams.
Michael Carver, 71, traveled to the draft from Grundy, Va., and was covered in stripes for the Bengals from the brim of his top hat to his face to his pants.
“I’ve been dressing up for 30 years,” Carver said as he navigated the draft experience grounds on a mobility scooter.
Outlining the draft experience were large tents sponsored by different companies or featuring activities for families.
A tent by Fanatics Authentic, a sports memorabilia company headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., was running a mystery helmet box guessing game that gathered a small crowd around 2:30 p.m.
“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, a Fanatics Authentic employee.
North Huntingdon resident Jason Lust, 46, and his son, Koby Lust, 11, tried their luck at the helmet guessing game.
Koby Lust pulled a helmet signed by former Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon.
“We needed the Bills or the Colts, but the Oilers one is still cool,” Koby Lust said.
Despite the loss, the group stuck around the tent to see if they might have better fortune later in the day.
Other activities included a walkthrough of the Steelers’ six Super Bowl trophies, a stage with the Pittsburgh Steeline drum line, a 360-degree photo booth — where fans stood in the center of a platform while a camera circled them — and a large photo frame that draft attendees could stand inside.
Chants of “Here we go Steelers” could be heard sporadically throughout the footprint.
Taren Smith, 60, traveled from West Chester to Pittsburgh.
Smith, a Steelers fan who grew up in Penn Hills, said he just had to come back home for the draft, but the main thing he was excited about was spending time with his brothers, who still live in the Pittsburgh area.
“I didn’t really know what to expect because the last time I was here, it wasn’t anything like this, so it looks great,” Smith said.