Latest news with #MicheleMeloyBurchfield
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Expects Record-Breaking Crowd for 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh! Click for more coverage from the Steelers Now team. Pittsburgh expects the 2026 NFL Draft to be the biggest event in the city's history. As the rest of the NFL prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, the city of Pittsburgh is focused on hosting the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to have a record-breaking crowd. VisitPittsburgh expects the 2026 NFL Draft to be the biggest event in the city of Pittsburgh's history. 'In just 13 short months, we will welcome between 500,000 to 700,000 visitors to the shores of Downtown Pittsburgh,' Jerad Bachar of VisitPittsburgh said. Advertisement Pittsburgh is doing whatever it takes to make the event a success, which includes sending a team of about 20 people to Green Bay, Wisconsin, next month. That will give them the oppportunity to see what works and what doesn't. 'This is a game-changer for our region and a defining moment for Pittsburgh,' Michele Meloy Burchfield of VisitPittsburgh said. While the Steelers are fully focused on this year's draft, they've done a lot of work to make sure next year's draft will be successful for them as well. The team has been very strategic in its moves this offseason. The Steelers let several free agents walk out the door that are expected to be countable for a compensatory draft pick slot. Advertisement According to Over the Cap, the Steelers are estimated to be eligible to receive a third-round pick for left tackle Dan Moore Jr., a fourth rounder for quarterback Justin Fields, a fifth or a sixth for running back Najee Harris, a sixth for guard James Daniels, a sixth for cornerback Donte Jackson and a seventh for linebacker Elandon Roberts. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who just signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, is also expected to net anywhere from a fifth- to third-round pick. The Steelers won't get all of those since they've signed other players and can't have more than four, anyway. But it seems like they're loading up to give themselves the ammo it'll take to land their next franchise quarterback in front of their home crowd. The 2026 quarterback class looks strong, led by Texas scion Arch Manning, Penn State's Drew Allar, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
VisitPittsburgh expects 500-700,000 people for 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is expected to be the biggest event in the city's history. 'This is a game-changer for our region and a defining moment for Pittsburgh,' said Michele Meloy Burchfield of VisitPittsburgh. The NFL Draft is still 392 days away, but planning has been well underway. 'In just 13 short months, we will welcome between 500,000 to 700,000 visitors to the shores of Downtown Pittsburgh,' said Jerad Bacha of VisitPittsburgh. Advertisement On Wednesday, some conceptual renderings of how the Draft in the Steel City will look were shown at VisitPittsburgh's annual meeting. While the exact plans aren't finalized just yet, this is the first time the NFL Draft will have two main locations separated by a river. 'Then NFL looks at it as an opportunity. Obviously, it's a challenge that's uniquely Pittsburgh, but there's also a lot that we can offer from a solution standpoint,' Bachar added. Those challenges are transportation between the Point and the North Shore, and public safety. 'I'm very confident in the meetings that we've had with public safety, city police, county police, state police, and everybody else involved. It's going to be a very safe event for our city,' said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R. Advertisement To make a weekend like this successful, organizers say they are going to need a 'small army' of volunteers. 'We're going to need probably 3,000 volunteers to help out throughout draft weekend,' Schooley said. Schooley said local colleges have already been reaching out to get students involved as volunteers, too. 'The volunteerism in this city really shines when big events come in, so we don't see it being an issue of collecting these volunteers and wanting people to be involved,' he said. Not only are local businesses like hotels, restaurants, and museums ready for that busy weekend, VisitPittsburgh said they are looking forward to the 50 million people to watch the draft on TV. Advertisement 'They might not have known about Pittsburgh, but when they see it on TV and they see our bridges, and see our stadium, it also allows VisitPittsburgh and that team to be attract bigger events through out the upcoming years,' Schooley said. VisitPittsburgh is sending a team of about 20 people to Green Bay, Wisconsin, next month to see what works for their draft — and what doesn't — before Pittsburgh is officially on the clock for 2026. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
