Steelers’ Bid to Host NFL Draft Passes Administrative Hurdle

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ bid to host the NFL Draft in an upcoming year passed an administrative hurdle on Tuesday, with the Stadium Authority of the City of Pittsburgh voting unanimously to support a bid by the Steelers and VisitPittsburgh to host the draft in 2026 or 2027.

The meeting, which was the only item on the Stadium Authority’s agenda, lasted just 10 minutes, according to a report by Pittsburgh Business Times.

The Stadium Authority is responsible for the oversight of the property of the former Three Rivers Stadium, which was located between Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park on the North Side. The authority currently manages the parking lots and oversees the development of the area by the Pirates and Steelers.

The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County owns and operates the two stadiums and will also need to sign off on the application. Their meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

Steelers president Art Rooney II said last week that he is hopeful about Pittsburgh’s chances of being able to host the event.

“We’re deep in the process of trying to get the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh,” Rooney said last Monday. “I think we are optimistic we will bring it here in the not so distant future.”

The plans for where the draft will be held if Pittsburgh gets the bid have not been finalized, but a source told Steelers Now that Point State Park is being considered.

This year’s draft will be held in Detroit, and Green Bay, Wisconsin will host the event in 2026.  New York City hosted every NFL Draft from 1965 to 2014 before the NFL shifted gears and made the festivities an event that fans of all 32 teams could come and enjoy themselves. 

Since 1936, 12 different cities have hosted the NFL Draft, including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee,  Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. Pittsburgh could be in line to have the longest drought between draft hosting duties. The Steel City last held the league’s annual selection meeting in 1948.