The Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh announced their desires last month to host the NFL Draft. And now the governor is joining the campaign to bring the spectacle to Steel City.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro issued a statement earlier this week to support Pittsburgh’s bid for the draft.
“Pittsburgh has established itself as one of the most dynamic cities on the East Coast — and the birthplace of professional football,” Shapiro said in a statement to the media. “Pittsburgh is the best choice in the country to host the NFL Draft.”
The Steelers want to play host to the three-day event in 2026 and 2027. There are several reasons to want the big football party. For one, it is huge exposure for the city, with ESPN and the NFL Network going live for hours of coverage for three days. Fans of all teams can come to the city as NFL Draft tourists. It is like a big football fair.
The governor wasn’t the only major state or city figure to join the Steelers efforts. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that board members of the city Sports & Exhibition Authority voted to authorize executive director Aaron Waller to enter into agreements with the NFL and the Steelers. The board also may enter agreements with VisitPittsburgh, the city and Allegheny County to bring the draft here. The Stadium Authority also did the same.
NFL currently going through a Midwestern draft swing
The NFL seems to be on a Midwestern swing for its traveling road show. It will be in Detroit next month. And last year, Kansas City turned the event into a big Chiefs party.
Up until a decade ago, the the league maintained NFL Draft headquarters in New York. The league began televising the draft in 1980. It now serves as some well watched content to give football fans something to watch between the Super Bowl and the opening of preseason training camps this summer.
The NFL opened up the draft to other cities starting in 2015.
In November, Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten confirmed that the team wanted the draft.
“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,” Lauten said in a statement to the media.
“The NFL draft will draw hundreds of thousands of fans and out-of-town visitors,” Lauten added. “And we look forward to working with local and state officials and community leaders to ensure we craft a successful bid to host the 2026 or 2027 NFL draft.”
Steelers, city believe draft could be worth more than $160 million
Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last fall that the Steelers hosting the draft could generate an economic impact of up to $160 million. They can use what unfolded in Kansas City last year as a financial barometer. The KC Sports Commission said the NFL Draft was worth $164 million to their city.
Green Bay gets to celebrate the NFL Draft next year. Then will it be Pittsburgh?
If the city does secure the bid, the plan is for the stage to be on the North Shore somewhere near Acrisure Stadium.
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