Construction is underway outside Acrisure Stadium as the NFL Draft stage begins to take shape, bringing the buzz of draft season to the North Shore.
With fewer than 30 days to go, Pittsburgh is gearing up to host the NFL Draft from April 23 to 25.
On Wednesday morning, a tree removal crew could be seen working in the parking lot of Stage AE facing West General Robinson Street. The draft stage will be set up in the surrounding area in front of Acrisure Stadium.
As you can see, a tree removal company is in the area in front of Acrisure right now @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/t2tnd5C5tZ
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 25, 2026
The work being done right now is in the parking lot of Stage AE @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/sY4FAvjUbZ
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 25, 2026
Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division is overseeing the removal of a limited number of trees in the North Shore to accommodate site preparations for the draft, TribLive previously reported. And, following the draft, the Forestry Division will then oversee the replanting of up to 300 new trees.
Construction on the area of where the NFL Draft stage will be has officially begun @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/CVCBvO7dA6
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 25, 2026
Trees along West General Robinson Street had all been removed as of Wednesday.
The construction workers were unable to comment on the tree removal or give more details on the draft stage.
Here are two more videos of the action. The construction workers had no comment on the situation and were unable to provide more details @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/h7jhcLR3Ec
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 25, 2026
According to the official renderings of the 2026 NFL Draft site, which were released in February, the draft theater and main stage are planned for outside Acrisure Stadium.
Visit Pittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar previously told TribLive the completed draft stage will be comparable in size to the field inside Acrisure Stadium.
A .5 shot of the area where the NFL Draft stage will be @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/tabM6hEFZQ
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) March 25, 2026
The NFL’s fan festival — with activities and the prospects’ red carpet — will be staged at Point State Park by the fountain.
