U.S. Open Crowd Offers a Preview of Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft Moment

The U.S. Open is expecting to draw 200,000 fans this week at Oakmont Country Club just outside Pittsburgh, as the city is under a year out from hosting its biggest sporting event ever: the 2026 NFL Draft.

When the NFL takes over downtown Pittsburgh next April, early projections have somewhere between 500,000 and 700,000 attending the three-day showcase around the selection of the league’s future stars. Pittsburgh’s population is just over 300,000, so NFL Draft attendees could easily double that, especially after Green Bay shattered expectations with 600,000 attendees this year. The greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area has nearly 2.5 million residents.

While the Steel City has the NFL’s Steelers, MLB’s Pirates, and the NHL’s Penguins, and has hosted other big events like the MLB All-Star Game and NHL Winter Classic, the NFL Draft will shine a brighter spotlight on the city than ever. 

Going for the Green

As the world’s best golfers compete in the third men’s major championship of the year, the Pittsburgh area will get a mini test for the influx of visitors who will arrive around next spring’s football affair.

Oakmont is hosting its record 10th U.S. Open, so Pittsburgh is used to welcoming large golf crowds. During the most recent edition at the club in 2016, a staggering 230,000 fans showed up. 

While the golf club is about 15 miles away from Acrisure Stadium in downtown Pittsburgh, which will be the center of the NFL Draft festivities, this week still marks a significant boost in airport activity, as well as hotels and short-term rentals around the greater Pittsburgh area.