The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh set an attendance record of 805,000 over three days, the league announced, breaking the record of 775,000 fans set in Detroit in 2024.
The NFL has taken the draft on the road since 2015 to various league cities, where it has become a marquee event.
“None of us would be able to say that we projected this,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said before this year’s draft. “I will say, though, we felt strongly that taking it to the fans, taking it to these communities, that something magical would happen. But to see this kind of reaction, people have been talking about this in Pittsburgh for almost a year.”
The draft stage was set outside Acrisure Stadium, with a large viewing area extending into the parking lot. Fans were also able to watch the draft from inside the stadium.
On Day 1 of the draft, Pittsburgh set a single-day attendance record with 320,000 people, according to Goodell.
Goodell then challenged Pittsburgh ahead of Day 3 to draw 176,000 fans to the final four rounds, which would set the total attendance record. With rain falling in Pittsburgh on Saturday, the city showed up anyway.
The Pittsburgh metro area’s population is approximately 2.4 million, according to 2024 census data.
“(The draft) will, more importantly, be a platform for everyone to see the wonderful things that are happening here in this community,” Goodell said earlier in the week. “The history and tradition of some of the players that came from this community.”
Goodell said he hoped the draft would be financially fruitful for the city and projected an economic impact of “over a couple hundred million dollars.”
There were several activations around the city before and during the draft, pointing to the NFL’s efforts to make a lasting impact. The league brought the show, and the fans came in record droves to watch.
“That’s what it’s about, is celebrating football,” Goodell said. “For this draft, it’s a Pittsburgh draft, and that’s what we want, to demonstrate and show the passion of our communities.”
