City Cast Pittsburgh

🏈 A post-draft Pittsburgh

April 27, 2026 · – Mallory Falk

A large crowd of people stands in front of the NFL draft stage — *"I told [NFL] Commissioner Goodell we were gonna set records here in Pittsburgh," Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a fan event. "And we have shown up." (Jason Miller / Getty)*

We did it! Pittsburgh celebrated (survived?) the NFL Draft!

Visitors sang our praises. We smashed attendance records. (More on that below.) Our public transit system rose to the occasion. The Steelers picked 10 new players, with the help of Michael Keaton. A Pop-Tarts mascot was sacrificed.

Did you check out the festivities? Let us know what you thought!

What's CITY Talking About

Pittsburgh Breaks Draft Attendance Record

The City of Champions wins again! NFL officials say a whopping 805,000 fans attended the draft over three days, beating the record of 775,000 set in Detroit in 2024. Pittsburgh also set a record for Day 1 attendance, when 320,000 people turned out for the spectacle. [🔒 The Athletic]

Despite the crowds, many local small businesses said their sales were "lower than ever." [🔒 Post-Gazette]

What's Next for Downtown?

Local leaders hustled to fix sidewalks, fill storefronts, and revamp public spaces ahead of the NFL Draft. What's in store for the Golden Triangle now that the party's over? Jeremy Waldrup with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership shares his vision and why he'd like to regularly host the draft rather than court a Super Bowl. [City Cast Pittsburgh]

Pens Hang On in Playoffs

The Penguins return home to PPG Paints Arena tonight for Game 5 against the Flyers, after scoring their first playoff victory over the weekend. Their odds of winning the series are pretty low, but maybe they can ride the city's celebratory, post-draft vibes and pull off the near-impossible? [KDKA]

If they lose, it’ll probably be franchise favorite Evgeni Malkin’s last game. [🔒 The Athletic]

Treasurer Blocks $1M Payment for Shapiro Security Upgrades

PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity won't approve payment for security upgrades to Gov. Shapiro's private home. State police recommended the upgrades after an arson attack at the governor's mansion on the first night of Passover last year. Garrity, a Republican who's expected to challenge Shapiro in the governor's race this fall, says the decision isn't political. His office called the move a "shameful political action without legal basis." [Spotlight PA]