The 2026 NFL Draft held April 23-25 made for a fun and festive atmosphere as many residents in the Fox Chapel Area School District footprint flocked to experience the record-breaking event at Point State Park, Acrisure Stadium and on the North Shore.
According to the NFL, Pittsburgh set an all-time record with 805,000 fans attending over three days.
Fox Chapel Realtor Molly Finley didn’t want to miss what she described as an “awesome” event.
“It’s really exciting for the world to see our beautiful city both in person and on television,” Finley said.
Draft entertainment highlights included performances from Bret Michaels, Wiz Khalifa, Kels and Kane Brown.
Oscar-nominated actor Michael Keaton returned to his hometown to surprise fans by announcing a Steelers draft pick.
O’Hara resident Melissa Fanto Marlo said she was sad to see the draft festivities end.
“But we’re excited to see how our new draft picks do in black and gold. Go Steelers,” Marlo said.
Worries of possible mega-crowd sizes didn’t deter Marlo and her family from taking Pittsburgh Regional Transit to get there.
“One of the biggest takeaways was the convenience of PRT. We’ll definitely be taking public transit more often,” Marlo said.
Marlo touted the overall experience as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
“Everything was easy. The fans were amazing and, honestly, the way it was run made it feel less crowded than a Steelers game,” Marlo said. “I was so proud to be a Pittsburgher.”
Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis said meeting NFL fans from all over the world was a highlight.
“My favorite part of the draft was connecting with people from all over the world and from so many different walks of life,” Portis said. “Having Pittsburgh host is a big deal because it puts the city’s passion for football front and center. It’s a chance to showcase our culture, our fans and is why this city lives and breathes the game.”
Portis said the event was years in the making, and she’s thankful Pittsburgh officials worked to make it happen.
“Huge thanks to the Gainey administration for bringing this opportunity to Pittsburgh and to the O’Connor administration for executing such an incredible event,” Portis said.
The 2027 NFL Draft will be hosted in Washington, D.C.
