From Around the World to Pittsburgh’s Front Door
Visitors for the NFL Draft raved about their airport entrance
By Julie Bercik
Published April 27, 2026
NFL officials announced that Pittsburgh set a new draft attendance record with an approximate 805,000 fans descending on the Steel City over three days – and many of them first stepped off a plane at the airport.
From Austria to Australia, fans streamed through the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, taking photos, interacting with exhibits, sampling beverages and getting their luggage faster than ever before.
And more many of the thousands of arrivals, it was their first experience through the new PIT, including Steelers first round pick Max Iheanachor.
As the draft approached, elected officials and community leaders officially kicked off NFL Draft week at the airport, unveiling a mock draft stage complete with a podium for arriving visitors to pose with for photos.
“This region and its airport have been preparing for a moment like this for over a decade, aligning infrastructure and experience to support large-scale global events,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said. “We are sending a message saying that we are open for business and that we are ready to lead on a global stage.”
Watch the video for visitors’ full reactions.
