The NFL Draft Experience at Point State Park has workers preparing for the draft’s companion fan festival, a “free, all-ages” event that will “give football fans a chance to meet some of the NFL prospects,” according to Mike Larson of the PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES. Fans can “get autographs and take part in several other football-related activities.” On Monday, stages, kiosks and scaffoldings were “still being erected at Point State Park, but things were clearly coming together.” The experience will feature “several interactive installations,” including a “red carpet where players hoping to be drafted will walk and be available for photos.” The NFL Draft Experience will have the “Steelers Country” stage, which will host football legends. There is even a display where “fans can see the Vince Lombardi trophy up close.” Even though the actual draft will be taking place across the river, NFL VP/Global Events Nicki Ewell said that there will “be screens all over the NFL Draft Experience in which to watch every pick.” Larson wrote the “only thing fans will have to pay for is concessions or merchandise” (PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES, 4/20).
EVENT CHALLENGES: Despite the logistical challenge of shuttling people across the river -- splitting the NFL Draft footprint in two -- Ewell said that the league has “handled similar setups before.” Ewell said, “The reason why we’re here is because there was so much demand, and we needed space for all of our partners, we needed space for the Steelers -- we just ran out of space. There’s so much demand from our partners to activate; this is second only to the Super Bowl.” After working with partners across Pennsylvania, Ewell mentioned that the NFL wanted to “showcase the ‘crown jewel’ that is Point State Park and its fountain” (TRIBLIVE, 4/20).
