Pittsburgh public schools will close for the Wednesday to Friday of draft week
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Pittsburgh will host the 2026 NFL Draft, expecting between 500,000 and 700,000 visitors, prompting significant city preparations.
- Pittsburgh public schools will close from April 22 to April 24, with students participating in remote learning due to anticipated challenges in accessibility, transportation, and safety.
- The NFL Draft has evolved into a major spectacle, attracting large crowds and generating excitement, far beyond its original, simpler format.
- Attendance figures can be misleading as many attendees enter and exit the event multiple times over the draft days.
- The decision to expand the draft's scale originated from a 2015 scheduling conflict, leading the league to host the event in Chicago and subsequently grow its prominence.
