Getting Around During Draft Week: FAQ for Downtown Businesses

As Pittsburgh steps into the national spotlight for the NFL Draft, Downtown is buzzing with excitement and opportunity. This is a moment to show off what makes our community special—our local shops, restaurants, and neighborhood spots—while welcoming visitors from across the country.  

While road closures and traffic impacts are a temporary part of hosting a large‑scale event, with a little planning, flexibility, and early communication with your team, businesses and residents, and visitors alike can navigate the logistics and make the most of this unforgettable weekend. 

Below you’ll find information on what to expect from the draft, and tips on how to plan your transportation during the NFL Draft. 

When will the Draft take place? 

The Draft Experience will be open during the following times: 

• Thursday, April 23: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

• Friday, April 24: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

• Saturday, April 25: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

The actual Draft selection process will begin at 8 pm on Thursday April 23, at 7 pm on Friday April 24, and at noon on Saturday April 25. 

Where will the Draft take place? 

The 2026 NFL Draft will be split across the Allegheny River. The Draft Theater and Main Stage will be located on the North Shore, utilizing the area outside Acrisure Stadium as a natural amphitheater. The NFL Draft Experience (the free fan festival) will be centered across the river at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh. View the renderings of the NFL Draft Campus.  

There will also be event programming at Market Square, Art’s Landing, and along the road closures connecting the various event footprints. 

Where can I see planned road closures? 

All road closures are detailed on Visit PITTSBURGH’s Road Closures & Traffic Changes webpage.  

Make sure to use a navigation app, like Google Maps. It will account for road closures and traffic back-ups to find you the quickest route in and out of downtown. 

What will be the best way to get downtown during the Draft? 

Taking public transit will be the most affordable, reliable, and in some cases the quickest way to get downtown during the Draft. 

See Visit PITTSBURGH’s Public Transportation & Regional Access webpage to learn more about the special transit service planned for the Draft. 

Will there be any parking available in downtown? 

Yes, but parking will be very limited throughout all of downtown, especially near the event footprints in Point State Park, Market Square, and Art’s Landing. Demand will be at its highest during Draft selection hours, and most garages are expected to be full at this time. Arrive before the Draft Experience begins each day to maximize your chance of finding a spot. Garage entry rates will be higher than usual during the Draft. 

What are some tips for parking during the draft? 

Plan on where to park before you leave home and allow for an extra 30-60 minutes of travel depending on your place of origin. Many garages and lots will be full during the Draft selections, so plan for a back-up option as well. 

Park PGH shows real-time parking availability of many garages downtown. Make sure to check this before leaving home. 

Your best chance to find parking will be at garages and lots further away from the Draft festivities. This may include: 

• First Avenue Garage 

• Second Avenue Parking Plaza 

• Lots near PPG Paints Arena 

This Greater Downtown Parking Map shows all large public parking lots and garages downtown available during the NFL Draft. 

Parking is FREE at park and ride lots served by the Football Flyer routes (see below). 

See Visit PITTSBURGH’s Parking and Driving Guide for more information. 

What special transit service will be in place during the Draft? 

Pittsburgh Regional Transit will run four “Football Flyer” routes for FREE during the Draft: 

• 99N will stop at the McCandless Park and Ride and Ross Park and Ride 

• 99E will stop at the Monroeville Mall Park and Ride and East Busway Stations 

• 99S will stop at the Large Park and Ride and South Busway Stations 

• 99W will stop at the University Boulevard Park and Ride and West Busway Stations 

Park and Ride lots are free to park in and have very large capacities. And since these routes will run on busways, they will avoid most of the traffic. 

Light Rail lines and the Monongahela Incline will also be free to ride during the Draft. 

See Visit PITTSBURGH’s Public Transit and Regional Access webpage for more information on expanded service and regional transit options during the draft. 

PRT will reduce service on many routes, so plan accordingly. See PRT’s Special Service webpage for more information on impacted routes. 

I’m new to taking transit. What do I need to know? 

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has a helpful How to Ride video for first-time riders. 

First, you’ll want to figure out which route to take. View PRT’s route map or the trip planner tool to find the closest route to your place of origin. Navigation apps can also be used to plan your trip. 

For tracking the bus or train in real-time, we recommend using either PRT’s Ready2Ride app or the Transit App. These smartphone apps can also be used to purchase a mobile ticket to present while boarding. 

Reminder, the 99 Football Flyers, the Light Rail routes, and the Monongahela will not require fares during the Draft. 

Are there any other options for getting around during the Draft? 

Carpooling will be a great way to cut down on parking costs. 

Biking can be a great way to get around the traffic. Bike Pittsburgh offers a lot of helpful information for biking in Pittsburgh. Check out their “Bike the Draft” webpage with an interactive map showing planned closures and parking options near the event.  

POGOH, the Pittsburgh bike share system, offers short-term bike rentals using their network of docking stations. 

Ride-sharing apps (Uber, Lyft, and Ztrip) will be a good option for late at night when transit is no longer running. During the Draft, users can expect longer wait times and surge pricing. 

Where can I learn more if I want to attend the Draft Experience? 

Anyone can enter the Draft Experience for free, as long as they register using the NFL OnePass App and go through security screening at one of the event entrances. 

Find more information about the event on Visit PITTSBURGH’s NFL Draft homepage.