Pittsburgh will close 17 roads starting April 22 in preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. The event is expected to attract between 500,000 to 700,000 fans from April 23–25.
Key points
Pittsburgh will close 17 roads starting April 22
2026 NFL Draft scheduled for April 23–25
Acrisure Stadium is the event venue
Estimated attendance of 500,000 to 700,000 fans
Fan experience at Point State Park
Mentioned in this story
PittsburghAcrisure Stadium
2026 NFL DraftSteelers
Pittsburgh is ready to lift the curtain on the 2026 NFL Draft. The event brings several road closures, and numerous roads have already shut down — and more are on the way.
The draft is scheduled to take place from April 23–25 at Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Steelers, while the fan experience will be stationed across the Allegheny around Point State Park. Since March, Pittsburgh officials have been blocking traffic in some areas near the stadium as the Steel City prepares for an estimated influx of 500,000 to 700,000 football fans in the city.
April 22 brings 17 new closuresThese are all the areas to avoid.
New Pittsburgh roads closed for NFL Draft starting April 22
Certain streets in both Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore will temporarily close to vehicle traffic. The goal, according to Visit Pittsburgh, is to provide a safe and walkable "Draft Campus" while balancing the needs of the community and the buzz of the event.
From April 22–25, the following roads will close for the draft:
Sproat Way
North Shore Drive from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way
Mazeroski Way
West General Robinson Street
Lacock Street
Q&A
What roads in Pittsburgh will be closed for the 2026 NFL Draft?
Seventeen roads in Pittsburgh will be closed starting April 22 for the 2026 NFL Draft.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft scheduled to take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23–25 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
How many fans are expected to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh?
An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 fans are expected to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
What is the location of the fan experience for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The fan experience for the 2026 NFL Draft will be located across the Allegheny River around Point State Park.
Related Articles
NFL·Preview
NFL Nation mock draft: Our team reporters predict landing spots in the first round
Check out NFL Nation's mock draft predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft!
ESPN News··1 min read
NHL
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon lead way-too-early 2026 rankings
Way-too-early 2026 NHL rankings feature McDavid and MacKinnon at the top.
ESPN News··1 min read
Sports
Kentucky governor blasts 'decision-making' at UK
Kentucky Governor Beshear questions UK decision-making amid Barnhart's new role.
ESPN News··1 min read
NBA·Feature
NBA MVP: Who will win between Jokic, SGA and Wemby?
NBA MVP Race: Who will take the title - Jokic, SGA, or Wemby?
ESPN News··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Detroit Pistons hit film to prepare for Game 2 response vs. Orlando Magic
Detroit Pistons analyze Game 1 loss to prepare for Game 2 vs. Magic
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Fabrizio Claims This Liverpool Ace Set To Join Tottenham Hotspur: Should De Zerbi Snap Him Up?
Fabrizio Romano Claims Andy Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur!
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
I-279 southbound Exit 1B ramp
Route 65 southbound ramp to Fort Duquesne Bridge
Route 65 northbound ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street
6th Street Bridge, or the Roberto Clemente Bridge
7th Street Bridge, or the Andy Warhol Bridge
Sixth Street
Fort Pitt Bridge on-ramp from 10th Street Bypass
Commonwealth Place
Liberty Avenue Extension
Penn Avenue from Stanwix Street to 9th Street
Liberty Avenue/PPG Paints Arena Exit off Fort Pitt Bridge
Are any roads reopening in Pittsburgh before the draft?
Three roads closed on March 28, with another round of closures taking place on April 13. Both sets of streets near Acrisure Stadium were scheduled to reopen on April 21. The reopenings include:
Art Rooney Avenue
West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
Scotland Avenue
Casino Drive starting at Sproat Way
North Shore Drive to Chuck Noll Way
Reedsdale Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
Chuck Noll Way
Tony Dorsett Drive
Will there be parking near the 2026 NFL Draft?
Parking will be available in Downtown Pittsburgh and in Station Square garages. Visitors can also use public transit, like the Gateway Clipper or the "T" light rail system.
Parking can be reserved ahead of time through platforms like ParkWhiz, and the ParkPGH app and website can provide users with real-time updates on parking availability.
Will Pittsburgh schools close during the NFL Draft?
The goal, PPS Superintendent Wayne N. Walters said in a statement, is to maintain "continuity of learning while recognizing the extraordinary circumstances the city will experience during the NFL Draft."
Where will the NFL Draft take place?
Events scheduled during the NFL Draft will be split across the Allegheny River, with the Draft Theater and Main Stage set to be located on the North Shore in the area outside Acrisure Stadium, according to Visit Pittsburgh.
The NFL Draft Experience, a free fan festival, will take place at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Do I need tickets to attend the NFL Draft?
It's free to attend the draft, but attendees must register for free access to the draft campus ahead of time through the NFL OnePass app or on the NFL's website.
Where can I watch the NFL Draft?
Multiple channels will broadcast the draft, including NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The draft will be available for streaming on NFL+.
Here's where more Pittsburgh roads will close after the NFL Draft
Another set of roads will close on Sunday, April 26, the day after the NFL Draft wraps up. Streets closing April 26 through May 1 include:
Casino Drive from Sproat Way
North Shore Drive to Chuck Noll Way
Reedsdale Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
Chuck Noll Way
Tony Dorsett Drive
I-279 southbound Exit 1B
Are any Pittsburgh roads closing in May after the NFL Draft?
A few roads near Acrisure Stadium will close in the early parts of May following the NFL Draft.
From May 2–6, the following roads will shut down:
Reedsdale Street
Chuck Noll Way
Tony Dorsett Drive
From May 7–10, three more streets will be blocked to vehicle traffic. These include:
Art Rooney Drive
West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
