There is a moment in “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy opens the door of her uprooted Kansas cottage and steps from black and white into the glorious technicolor of a new world.
Thousands of football fans are about to experience that as they emerge from a dark tunnel into a panorama of rivers, bridges and soaring architecture.
Welcome to Pittsburgh.
The NFL Draft starts its three-day celebration of the future of the sport in the City of Champions. It is not just something that football fans are anticipating. It’s the culmination of a year of preparation for Pittsburgh.
If the view from the Fort Pitt Tunnel is Pittsburgh’s front door, the North Shore is the back deck. It’s a place to gather with friends, grill some brats and enjoy a game. It’s anchored by the riverfront homes of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, with room for plenty of tailgating.
And this week, yinzers are inviting everyone to the party. Heck, we’re letting the kids stay home from school. If this were a more Pennsylvania holiday, we’d have to be hunting some deer.
There are plenty of political and business reasons for this. The NFL Draft is a major event with the potential to bring up to 700,000 people to town. That’s not just an economic jump-start. If it all goes down correctly, it could be a financial power surge. And what’s good for the wallet is good for the leadership of city, county and state government — and major businesses.
But let’s not underestimate the opportunity to just be a good host.
Pittsburghers are proud of the Steel City. They feel a glow when people talk about PNC Park as the most beautiful view in baseball. They are thrilled to see the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs — although it would have been better had they beaten the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena.
An event like the draft gives the city a chance to show off the gritty industrial history that built America, and the university and health care boom that has been its rebirth. You want museums? Art? Culture? Great food? Good music? We’ve got it all.
But to have this happen around the draft is a particular point of pride. No matter what else Pittsburgh is or what else Pittsburgh has, it is and always will be a football town.
The future of the NFL is going to play out in the city where the Immaculate Reception happened. It’s going to happen where one of the most storied dynasties on the gridiron plays.
So cross the bridge. Take in the view. Grab yourself an Iron City and some pierogies, and make yourself at home.
The black-and-gold welcome mat is out just for you.
