Did Pittsburgh's Historic Sports Month Live Up To Hype?
TL;DR
April 2026 was touted as a significant sports month for Pittsburgh, highlighted by hosting the NFL Draft from April 23 to 25. The event marked the city's second time hosting the draft and its first in the Super Bowl era.
Key points
- Pittsburgh hosted the NFL Draft in April 2026
- This was the second time hosting the NFL Draft
- First NFL Draft hosted by Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl era
Mentioned in this story
Acrisure Stadium
Did Pittsburgh's Historic Sports Month Live Up To Hype? originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
April 2026 was hyped as one of the biggest sports months for Pittsburgh in recent memory. Did it deliver?
For starters, Pittsburgh hosted the 2026 NFL Draft from April 23 to April 25. It was the city's second time hosting the NFL Draft and the first time in the Super Bowl era, and it did not disappoint.
The 2026 NFL Draft set an attendance record for the event with 805,000 fans attending over the three days. The draft also set an attendance record for the first round with 320,000 fans.
As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they had a solid draft with 10 picks, including Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor with their first-round selection, Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard with their second-round pick and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with one of their three third-round picks.
The Steelers still haven't signed Aaron Rodgers yet, however, which remains disappointing.
On the diamond, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a good April, going 14-13 with a plus-14 run differential. They called up MLB's top prospect, Konnor Griffin, in time for their home opener on April 3 and quickly signed him to a nine-year, $140 million extension -- the largest deal in franchise history.
Meanwhile, the new-look lineup showed major improvement compared to last year and Paul Skenes recovered from his Opening Day dud, reclaiming his status as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The Pirates still have a long way to go, but they look like legit contenders this year and should be in the mix for a playoff spot despite playing in MLB's toughest division.
On the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers in six games, extending the city's streak without a postseason series win. The Penguins were shut out twice in the series, including their brutal 1-0 overtime loss in Game 6.
Overall, April turned out to be a pretty good month for Pittsburgh sports fans, but it could've gone a bit better.
More NFL:Â Former NFL QB Makes Encouraging Aaron Rodgers Prediction For Steelers Fans
Q&A
What major sports event did Pittsburgh host in April 2026?
Pittsburgh hosted the NFL Draft from April 23 to April 25, 2026.
How many times has Pittsburgh hosted the NFL Draft?
Pittsburgh has hosted the NFL Draft twice, with the April 2026 event being the first in the Super Bowl era.
What was the significance of April 2026 for Pittsburgh sports fans?
April 2026 was hyped as one of the biggest sports months for Pittsburgh, featuring the NFL Draft and other significant events.
