Steelers Now
The city of Pittsburgh expects to have record-setting numbers as the host of the 2026 NFL Draft.
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh is officially on the clock for the 2026 NFL Draft and it expects to make history.
On Monday, Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey revealed he thinks the city will not only break but shatter attendance records.
“I believe we’ll get a million people in this region, a million people to come to our draft,” Gainey said. “It’ll be the biggest one the NFL has ever seen.”
Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey:
“I believe we’ll get a million people in this region, a million people to come to our draft. It’ll be the biggest one the NFL has ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/UMC8LiKkHW
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) May 12, 2025
The attendance record is currently owned by Detroit, which reportedly hosted over 775,000 fans during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Green Bay then tied Nashville during the 2025 NFL Draft for the second-largest attendance (600,000) since the NFL moved the draft out of New York and started sending it to various locations in 2015. However, Pittsburgh clearly has much higher expectations.
The number nearly doubles what the city had previously thought. VisitPITTSBURGH originally expected 500,000 to 700,000 visitors next April, which would have already been the biggest event in Pittsburgh’s history.
Steelers president Art Rooney II couldn’t help but reflect on his family’s legacy continuing to grow.
“I think my grandfather and my dad would be amazed that this many people were going to come to the North Shore, that’s for sure,” Rooney said. “It would be exciting for them to be here.”
#Steelers president Art Rooney II on potentially having record-setting numbers for the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I think my grandfather and my dad would be amazed that this many people were going to come to the North Shore, that’s for sure. It would be exciting for them to be here.” pic.twitter.com/8jfrEaffOh
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) May 12, 2025
The Steelers have a chance to have a historic draft as well. They are projected to have 12 selections after trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for an additional third-round pick last week.
That should give the Steelers all the ammunition they need to go get their next franchise quarterback in front of their home crowd.
The NFL announced last May that the Steelers’ bid in conjunction with Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh was approved for the 2026 NFL Draft. The city of Pittsburgh has not hosted the NFL Draft since December of 1947.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Pittsburgh Expects to Shatter NFL Draft Record in 2026
