Steelers Bidding To Have Pittsburgh Host NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh could host the NFL Draft in a few years as the Steelers and the City of Pittsburgh have submitted a bid to host the three-day event that usually attracts hundreds of thousands of people.

The team confirmed the application Thursday.

"We have submitted our indication to the NFL office of the Steelers' and city's desire to host either the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh," Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said. "We believe our
city will be an excellent host to showcase the great history that connects Western Pennsylvania to the early roots of professional football and the evolution of the game through the decades."

The draft would not be held in Acrisure Stadium but in an area between the stadium and Stage AE on North Shore Drive.

The draft involves far more than football fans from across the nation witnessing the selection of future NFL playoffs. What the NFL calls the Draft Experience offers fans an opportunity to test their football skills, enjoy interactive exhibits and take part in photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

There also are musical performances. In Pittsburgh, those likely would occur at Stage AE.

And estimated 312,000 people attended the 2023 draft in Kansas City. Tourist agency Visit K.C. said the draft had an estimated economic impact of $164.3 million, Sports Business Journal reported.

Detroit officials are greatly looking forward to hosting the event. Mayor Mike Duggan said Monday that city officials there believe the 2024 NFL draft could have an economic impact that rivals surpasses that of Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

"This is potentially bigger than the Super Bowl," Duggan said at a draft preview, the Detroit Free Press reported. “Only 60,000 people can get tickets to the Super Bowl. But for the NFL draft, hundreds of thousands can get in — and they stay for the weekend.”