Crowds lined both sides of the Allegheny River on the second day of the NFL Draft Experience, as fans poured into Point State Park shortly after the gates opened, filling the riverfront with a steady buzz and early arrivals.
While Point State Park grew crowded within the first hour Friday, the Draft Theater area near Acrisure Stadium built more slowly, with groups trickling in; the space was still less than a quarter full well into the afternoon.
But attendees kept the energy high as the festivities continued across Pittsburgh.
Stephanie Enz, 35, of Huntersville, said her family left the fan area Thursday night after exploring to watch the draft on television. She said Friday’s weather was too nice to skip the second day.
“I’m surprised how many Pittsburgh Steelers fans there are compared to everyone else from other teams,” Enz said. “I feel like watching the last few years, it was more of a mix of other fans.”
Crowds gathered in and around Downtown, with activities in full swing by 10 a.m.
The Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. held live blacksmithing demonstrations in Market Square, classic cars were on display, and the city’s tourism company, Visit Pittsburgh, set up a wall for fans to write on.
Mike and Sue Hacke of Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday morning.
The couple grabbed sandwiches at the Original Oyster House in Market Square and soaked in the updated area while waiting for gates to open for the Draft Experience at noon.
Mike Hacke, 67, grew up in Homestead but said it had been about 40 years since he was last in Pittsburgh. He was impressed by the improvements made to the city in preparation for the draft.
“I was in Philly a couple years ago when it was there, and I think that this is much better than what Philly did,” Hacke said.
Just before opening, football fans moved in droves from Market Square to line up at Point State Park, located just outside the Wyndham Grand Hotel.
The area inside the park was expanded from Thursday’s setup. The red carpet that had stretched across the entire space in front of the steps to the Point was split into two sections Friday, opening access to the Point State Park fountain.
As groups moved through the park, many gravitated toward the newly opened space, eventually sitting to take in the view and posing for photos with the fountain and stadium in the background.
Rick Wilson, 65, and his wife, Maureen, 62, took selfies in their Philadelphia Eagles jerseys while standing on the steps leading down to the fountain.
The couple, from Finleyville, Washington County, said Steelers fans were generally friendly.
“I think everybody’s very nice and have been very polite,” Rick Wilson said, noting only a few lighthearted comments here and there.
“We kind of took their pick last night,” he added.
On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Eagles selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who had been on the phone with representatives from the Steelers as Pittsburgh’s first-round pick approached.
On their second day at the draft experience, Jessica and Matthew Light, both 46, of Hershey took a stroll down the red carpet where draft prospects had strutted the night before.
“I noticed it from yesterday, and I figured we’d get a photo opportunity and take a memory home with us,” Matthew said.
Across the river, just outside of Acrisure Stadium, about a dozen people had nestled into the concrete with their backs against the draft stage barricade.
Hunter Enders, 30, and Meghan Crosby, 27, arrived at the area around 2 p.m. to be in the first row once the draft began at 7 p.m.
The two were in the third row the night before and said that, despite record-breaking crowds, the atmosphere remained friendly, with no shoving or safety concerns around them.
While the stage area was far less crowded in the afternoon than the footprint across the way, smaller groups still gathered outside the elevator platform where media and commentators were broadcasting.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa, a Pittsburgh native, joined a sports broadcast, waving to the small crowd gathered below on the asphalt.
Khalifa was scheduled to perform at 5:15 p.m. Friday, ahead of the second round’s start.
