PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – You can call the city Pix-Burg. The NFL announced that Steel City You will get the 2026 draft.
The project is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people to the city. It’s something they’ve been planning for some time and are excited to see.
Some estimates suggest the draft will bring at least 300,000 people to Pittsburgh. Last April in Detroit, it brought in 775,000.
“It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be one of the biggest events the city has ever seen,” said Jim Quinn, a member of the Strip District Business Association.
Although the marquee is the Player Draft, there will be other events during that weekend. It is estimated that the city will see revenues ranging between $120 and $160 million. According to Forbes, in 2023, Kansas City generated about $165 million, with more than 310,000 people attending the draft.
It is hoped that the money will flow beyond just the North Shore and downtown.
“All over the Strip District, you’re going to see activity,” said Sen. Wayne Fontana, R-Sports and Exhibition Commission member.
We may have two years to wait, but it’s never too early to start planning.
Restaurants and businesses are now beginning the process of finding the products they may need while adjusting their business hours.
“Just one brick at a time, getting to those goals that you want to get to in a couple of years,” said Brent Kightlinger, general manager of Redbeard’s Bar and Grille.
While the project will celebrate NFL players, the goal of hosting an event like this is to sell the city to tourists. For many people, this may be their first time here.
The work begins with the promotion of tourist attractions.
“They will visit our cultural district. They will learn about our world-class museums [and] “Our famous restaurants,” Senator Fontana said via Zoom.
Any hotel near North Beach or downtown is expected to be booked.
“Bringing in all these others from other parts of the country and other parts of the world, once they see this city, they’ll fall in love with it,” Quinn said.
There will be a lot of prep work between now and then.