2026 NFL DRAFT
IMPACT REPORT
2026 NFL DRAFT
A GLOBAL STAGE. A LASTING LEGACY. For three unforgettable days in April 2026, Pittsburgh became the center of the football world. Hundreds of thousands of fans filled our streets, millions watched from around the globe, and one of the world’s premier sporting events showcased everything that makes Pittsburgh extraordinary. The 2026 NFL Draft was more than a celebration of football—it was a defining moment for our region, demonstrating Pittsburgh’s ability to deliver world-class events that drive economic impact, inspire civic pride and create lasting opportunities for generations to come.
Pittsburgh is a premier destination capable of hosting the world’s biggest events, and the exposure generated through the Draft will continue benefiting our region long after the final pick was announced. - Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH BECAME THE CENTER OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD. FOR ONE REMARKABLE WEEKEND, ALL ROADS LED TO PITTSBURGH.
805,000
LARGEST NFL DRAFT IN HISTORY
TRAVELED 50+ MILES
105
9/10
55M+
ATTENDEES
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED THROUGH NFL ONEPASS REGISTRATIONS
OVERALL DRAFT SATISFACTION SCORE
I don’t know how the Draft has been in other cities, but Pittsburgh was the perfect host… even my one-mile night walk from Acrisure Stadium to my hotel after Day 2 of the Draft had me in awe of what I witnessed. - Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated
43%
VIEWERS WORLDWIDE
THE CITY DELIVERED. Hosting the largest event in NFL Draft history required more than planning—it required an entire community committed to creating an unforgettable experience.
WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY Pittsburgh’s greatest asset is its people, and throughout Draft week, thousands of volunteers and event staff created an unforgettable experience for every visitor.
2,775
VOLUNTEER ROLES WERE FILLED THROUGHOUT DRAFT WEEK
1,148
PAID TEAMMATES SUPPORTED EVENT OPERATIONS
310
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED ACROSS DOWNTOWN AND THE NORTH SHORE
TRANSPORTATION Moving a record-breaking crowd required seamless coordination across every mode of transportation—and Pittsburgh delivered.
485,000
PRT RIDERS UTILIZED PUBLIC TRANSIT THROUGHOUT DRAFT WEEK, A 51% INCREASE COMPARED TO AVERAGE RIDERSHIP
60,000
RIDES SUPPORTED BY FOOTBALL FLYERS
128,000 RIDES SUPPORTED BY THE T
A RECORD
26,500
GATEWAY CLIPPER PASSENGERS TRAVELED VIA RIVER TRANSPORTATION
74
TOTAL TRIPS ACROSS TWO-DAYS
240
TOTAL HOURS WORKED BY THE 10-PERSON CREW
PUBLIC SAFETY Public safety agencies worked together to ensure the largest NFL Draft in history was also one of the safest within the footprint for fans.
PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF EMS
PITTSBURGH POLICE
PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF FIRE
229
2
1
CALLS FOR SERVICE
ARRESTS
45
1
HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS
FIRE RESPONSE RELATED TO HOT GRILL ASHES
0
CITATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS
INCLUSIVITY Creating a welcoming experience for every fan was central to Pittsburgh’s approach—and attendees noticed.
NEARLY
7 IN 10
ATTENDEES RATED THE NFL DRAFT MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE THAN OTHER EVENTS THEY’VE ATTENDED
88%
OF ATTENDEES WEIGHED IN ON INCLUSIVITY — AND THE VAST MAJORITY RATED THE DRAFT AS MORE WELCOMING THAN COMPARABLE EVENTS
Pittsburgh is the best city in the country, and I loved representing my city and team! Also, the event was extremely well organized, safe, and fun, bringing extra energy and life to the city. - NFL Draft Attendee (Non-binary; Age 25-34)
PITTSBURGH CAME ALIVE. For three unforgettable days, Pittsburgh wasn’t simply hosting the Draft—it became PicksBURGH.
Pittsburgh put on a high-class event. Everything was very well done and organized. I was blown away. - NFL Draft Attendee (Woman, 35-44)
THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE The 2026 NFL Draft delivered an experience worthy of football’s biggest stage.
Excellent performance by Brett Michaels and great food and drink. Pittsburgh is so cute and so welcoming and an underrated city. - NFL Draft Attendee (Woman, 21-24)
Pittsburgh set a new standard for the NFL Draft, delivering a record-breaking event that surpassed expectations for fans, prospects, partners and the broader football community. Together with VisitPITTSBURGH, the Pittsburgh Steelers and civic leaders, we celebrated the future of the NFL while showcasing Pittsburgh’s energy and hospitality on the world stage. - Peter O’Reilly NFL Executive Vice President of Club Business, International and League Events
IMPACT THAT LASTS BEYOND DRAFT WEEKEND
TWO INDEPENDENT STUDIES. ONE EXTRAORDINARY RESULT.
The 2026 NFL Draft delivered results that extended far beyond three unforgettable days of football. Independent analyses conducted by Sportsimpacts and Trajektory confirmed that the 2026 NFL Draft generated more than
$1.5 BILLION in measurable economic value while elevating Pittsburgh’s reputation as a premier destination for tourism, conventions, business investment and future major events.
ECONOMIC IMPACT: DRIVING IMMEDIATE RESULTS According to Sportsimpacts, the 2026 NFL Draft generated significant economic activity across Southwestern Pennsylvania, fueled by record attendance, visitor spending and overnight stays.
$177 M
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
VISITORS LEFT WITH A STRONGER IMPRESSION OF PITTSBURGH The Draft also strengthened Pittsburgh’s reputation as a premier destination.
83%
78%
WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR VISIT
RATED PITTSBURGH AN EXCELLENT HOST CITY FOR MAJOR EVENTS
51%
75%
SAID THEIR PERCEPTION OF PITTSBURGH IMPROVED BECAUSE OF THEIR VISIT
OF VISITORS SAID THEY WERE VERY LIKELY TO RETURN TO PITTSBURGH WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
HOTELS & HOSPITALITY Hotels throughout Allegheny County experienced exceptional demand as visitors filled accommodations across the region, demonstrating the significant role overnight travel plays in the local tourism economy.
92%
PEAK DOWNTOWN HOTEL OCCUPANCY
74%
AVERAGE COUNTYWIDE OCCUPANCY THROUGHOUT DRAFT WEEKEND
85%
COUNTYWIDE OCCUPANCY ON PEAK NIGHT
$279
AVERAGE DAILY RATE COUNTYWIDE DRAFT WEEKEND
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES The NFL Draft Source Program connected local businesses with opportunities to participate directly in the event.
164
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES
$17.7 M
SPENT DIRECTLY WITH PITTSBURGH-BASED BUSINESSES
64%
MORE THAN
100
CONTRACTS AWARDED
AWARDED TO LOCAL DIVERSE BUSINESSES MORE THAN
$500,000
GENERATED BY LOCAL CONCESSIONAIRES WITHIN THE DRAFT FOOTPRINT
PITTSBURGH REACHED THE WORLD A GLOBAL SHOWCASE BEYOND WHAT TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING COULD ACHIEVE
While Sportsimpacts measured the economic outcomes of Draft weekend, Trajektory quantified something equally valuable: Pittsburgh’s worldwide visibility. From the day Pittsburgh was awarded the Draft through the conclusion of the event, the city was showcased across national broadcasts, earned media coverage, social media and on-site activations—introducing Pittsburgh to millions of potential visitors while strengthening its reputation as a destination for future travel, business investment and world-class events
GLOBAL REACH
55+ M BROADCAST VIEWS
8.6 B
BROADCAST IMPRESSIONS
209 M IN-VENUE IMPRESSIONS
385
HOURS OF NATIONAL BROADCAST COVERAGE
55+ M
COMBINED SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS (EARNED AND OWNED)
REAL, QUALIFIABLE VALUE
$1.41 B
IN PR PUBLICITY VALUE DRAFT WEEK ALONE
$27 M
IN OWNED AND EARNED SOCIAL MEDIA VALUE
$4.74
IN DIRECT IN-VENUE VALUE
THE MOST SOCIALLY VIEWED DRAFT IN NFL HISTORY The conversation extended well beyond Pittsburgh, with millions of fans sharing their Draft experience and amplifying the city’s story around the world.
PITTSBURGH GENERATED
MORE THAN 2X
THE IMPRESSIONS AND FOLLOWERS OF ANY PREVIOUS DRAFT HOST
69%
HIGHER SOCIAL POST VALUE THAN THE THREE-YEAR HOST AVERAGE
THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS RECORDED
THE HIGHEST DRAFT-WEEK SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OF ANY NFL CLUB
A LEGACY BEYOND THE GAME The final selection may have ended Draft weekend, but its impact continues to shape Pittsburgh’s future.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY The Draft inspired improvements that residents and visitors will enjoy long after the crowds have gone home.
800
NEW TREES TO BE PLANTED ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH 2027 TO EXPAND THE URBAN TREE CANOPY
400
HANGING FLOWER BASKETS INSTALLED THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS THE THREE SISTERS BRIDGES
RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW U.S. STEEL COMMUNITY FIELD IN THE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD OF HAZELWOOD, PART OF A
$25 M
NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT
420
STREET PLANTERS ENHANCED THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE
CONSTRUCTION SUPPORTED FOR
2 NEW
TOWNHOMES IN LARIMER
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH The NFL Draft used the power of football to inspire the next generation.
91
LOCAL SCHOOLS RECEIVED NFL FLAG-IN-SCHOOLS KITS, REACHING MORE THAN 50,000 STUDENTS
40
150
STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO
YOUTH FROM THE HOMELESS CHILDREN’S EDUCATION FUND PARTICIPATED IN MENTORSHIP PROGRAMMING
80
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES JOINED NFL PROSPECTS FOR A FOOTBALL CLINIC
90+
COLLEGE STUDENTS ENGAGED WITH SPORTS AND CIVIC LEADERS ON THE ROLE OF SPORTS IN STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES
SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS Community impact extended far beyond the Draft footprint.
59,720
POUNDS OF FOOD RESCUED AND REDISTRIBUTED TO 15 NONPROFITS, PREVENTING MORE THAN 146,000 POUNDS OF CARBON EMISSIONS MORE THAN
$1 M
RAISED TO FIGHT HUNGER ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
1,000
HYGIENE KITS AND 1,000 FIRST-AID KITS ASSEMBLED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
MORE THAN
300
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES GATHERED FOR A SPECIAL DAY OF FELLOWSHIP AND SUPPORT
IMPROVING HEALTH & WELLNESS The Draft created opportunities to promote healthier communities.
1,293
PEOPLE BECAME HANDS-ONLY CPR CERTIFIED, SETTING A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
42
MEN RECEIVED ON-SITE PSA BLOOD SCREENINGS AND PROSTATE HEALTH EDUCATION TO ENCOURAGE EARLY DETECTION
THANK YOU THIS WAS PITTSBURGH’S MOMENT. The success of the 2026 NFL Draft belongs to our entire community. To every volunteer who greeted visitors like neighbors. To every hospitality worker, police officer, firefighter, transit operator and public servant who kept our city welcoming and safe. To every restaurant, hotel, attraction and small business that proudly represented Pittsburgh. To our corporate partners, sponsors and donors whose investment made this event possible. And to the residents of Allegheny County—thank you for sharing your city with the world. The final pick may have been announced, but Pittsburgh’s future is still being forged. Together, we showed the world what this city can achieve—and we’re just getting started.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
THE CITY OF
The 2026 NFL Draft showcased what Steelers fans have known for generations— that Pittsburgh is one of football’s great cities. We were proud to welcome the NFL family and fans from around the world, and even prouder to see our community come together to create an unforgettable experience that reflected the heart and spirit of our region. - Art Rooney II President, Pittsburgh Steelers