Pittsburgh Hopeful for 2026 NFL Draft

As it stands right now, the city of Pittsburgh is not the host of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, many Steelers fans and local business owners are hoping that they can change that. Bob Buzzelli, a successful business and entertainment consultant, said he's hopeful the Steelers, city and county win their bid to host the event in 2026.

“I think it’s going to put Pittsburgh in a great light again on a national basis. Detroit had so much going on here at every restaurant… Honestly, everything was controlled, so many people, so many things going on. I think for Pittsburgh, it would obviously impact economically but I think it gives some visibility to our town again.”

The business and entertainment consultant told KDKA Radio the crowd nearest the stage last night was 275,000. He compared the event to a combination of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

In recent times, when Taylor Swift brought her world tour to Pittsburgh, local business boomed. According to Visit Pittsburgh, her two concerts generated approximately $46 million for the city and surrounding areas.
Could something similar be expected with an NFL Draft?

In Kansas City, the site of the 2023 NFL Draft, the city saw an economic impact of approximately $160 million according to University of Michigan Professor Stefan Szymanski. This past year, there are estimates from city officials of up to $175 million to $200 million in business for the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit which saw over a quarter million people in attendance.

Back in February, the Steelers made their official bid to host either the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft. Now, they have to wait until after the NFL owners meet in May to get their answer.

The Green Bay Packers have already secured the spot for the 2025 NFL Draft.