Pittsburgh sets Day 1 NFL draft attendance mark at 320,000

Field Level Media|published: Fri 24th April, 11:58 2026

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Fans attend before the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh set an attendance record for the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday with 320,000 fans on hand.

The total announced by commissioner Roger Goodell smashed the previous mark of 275,000 in Detroit in 2024.

The number also dwarfed the 205,000 who attended Day 1 of the 2025 draft in Green Bay.

The attendance in the Steel City included fans at Acrisure Stadium, site of the main stage, and Point State Park, the location for the NFL Draft Experience.

Pittsburgh officials had anticipated the large crowds in the city, expanding public transportation and shifting public school classes to remote-based learning. Organizers anticipated a total turnout for the three-day draft of between 500,000 and 700,000 fans.

The bar has been set for Washington, D.C., site of the 2027 NFL Draft.

--Field Level Media

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