Gates to the NFL Draft Experience opend at noon Thursday, with various fan events, player appearances and local vendors set up throughout the day.

Anyone attending the draft can register for free through the NFL OnePass app or NFL.com.

The event will span the North Shore and Point State Park, linked by the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

Fans will be able to snap photos with the Steelers’ Vince Lombardi Trophies, participate in games on the field at Acrisure Stadium, shop NFL merchandise and participate in activities for kids.

The NFL’s schedule for Thursday includes appearances by various NFL cheer teams and visits from several current and former Steelers, including Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, Alex Highsmith, Pat Freiermuth, Will Howard, Heath Miller, Rico Dowdle, Chris Hoke, Matt Spaeth and Terry Bradshaw.

The Topps Collector Destination in Acrisure Stadium will allow fans to shop for cards and explore hands-on activities.

At nearby Market Square, fans will be greeted by live entertainment and a Steelers-themed bar. A fan-friendly celebration hosted by Pitt Athletics and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will pop up at Arts Landing, the new 4-acre civic space Downtown.

How to get there

A slew of road closures will make navigating to the draft tricky. Phased closures started weeks ago, with more roads being shut down as the event has crept closer.

Officials are urging people to use public transit to mitigate congestion.

Four special “Football Flyer” express bus routes will run roughly every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on draft days, dropping people off near Point State Park and on the North Shore.

Riders will also be able to use the T and the Monongahela Incline for free during the event.

A full list of road closures and public transit routes is available here.

What to take — or not — to the draft

Fans heading to the draft should have their registration through the NFL’s OnePass app.

There are several restrictions on what people can bring into the footprint.

Anyone attending the draft should bring only clear bags or bags no bigger than 4½-by-6½ inches. Even clear bags can be no bigger than 12-by-6 inches. Bags can have logos on only one side.

Other things that are banned at the event include: alcohol; animals, except service animals; banners, flags or signs larger than 22-by-28 inches; bottles, cans, thermoses, coolers, glass containers, aerosol cups and cans; chairs or stools; drones; firearms, weapons, knives and explosives; fireworks; footballs, frisbees and other balls; illegal substances; laser pointers; motorized scooters and skateboards; noisemakers, whistles or horns; poles, sticks and missile-like objects; tripods; and umbrellas.

Strollers will be allowed but bags and blankets will be inspected.

Small cameras and binoculars are allowed, but professional-grade recording equipment is banned.

More details are available here.

What other events are on tap around the draft?

The draft will be taking center stage but a slate of other events are scheduled around it too.

The Great Pennsylvania Mascot Race will see Steelers mascot Steely McBeam, Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop, Pitt’s Roc the Panther and Penn State University’s Nittany Lion face off for a 40-yard dash at Point State Park at 4 p.m. Thursday.

From 2-6 p.m. Thursday, patrons can share their first job experience at McDonald’s ordering kiosks at 801 Allegheny Ave. for a $15 gift card. Participating locations are also offering a 20-piece McNuggets and fries meal for $8 as a draft deal.

People can watch “The Football Town” at Kamin Science Center and hear from draft picks’ fathers at Point Park University.

Additional information on events is available here.

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