As the three-day NFL Draft draws near, Pittsburgh is changing at the speed of light.
New construction has gone up near Acrisure Stadium in the North Shore, where the Draft will mainly take place. It’s a 19-million-dollar investment for everything: including construction, cleanup, marketing and everything in-between.
But the construction has been going on for months now, and even though it’s nearly done, people are starting to question whether it was worth the cost.
VisitPittsburgh estimated this draft will generate between $120 million and $213 million from tourism from the roughly 600,000 fans coming to watch and participate. However, some people are questioning whether the local economy will even generate that much and, if it does, where the money will go afterward.
To make Pittsburgh look picture-ready for the Draft, the city has pushed back on encampments Downtown, with advocates and local homeless shelters calling it a “dehumanizing” attempt to hide the city’s unhoused population.
A dozen encampments have been removed, and around 200 unhoused people are living outside throughout the county. Many homeless shelters are opening their doors and providing a safe space not only to stay but to watch the Draft, such as Light of Life on the North Shore.
People have also been questioning the city’s removal of things that make Pittsburgh unique, such as some 86 trees around Acrisure, which cost around $20,000 to replace and often die after being planted.
The city is also planning an extensive removal of graffiti, most of which is on the sides of highways driving into and out of Pittsburgh. Many people are calling it dystopian; getting rid of the things that make Pittsburgh look lived-in rather than perfect.
Another concern is the business pop-ups Downtown: Mayor Corey O’Connor is rushing to fill empty retail spaces with small businesses that will further boost the economy and make Downtown more attractive to large crowds.
So far, 24 new businesses have filled the 50 vacant retail spaces. Public officials say this is a great way for local small businesses to get the exposure they need. Still, many others are skeptical about whether any of these businesses will actually be permanent.
And it’s not just the public that’s concerned about how the NFL Draft will affect them; parents are already feeling its effects long before it even happens.
O’Connor recently released a statement that there will be asynchronous learning from April 22 to 24.
Around 10 people I discussed the Draft with think that the city isn’t geographically or structurally able to handle this many people and cars; so why should parents and the average person be affected by something they say Pittsburgh never should have agreed to host?
Until the NFL Draft happens and is over, we will have to see if this will actually benefit or be a detriment to Pittsburgh.
