‘A once in a lifetime opportunity’: Students prepare for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh, and a lot of Pitt students are ready to join in on the festivities.

The draft will be in Pittsburgh from April 23 to April 25, an event the City hasn’t seen since 1948. According to Pittsburgh tourism officials, 200,000 to 250,000 people are expected to attend each day, and locals are concerned the large crowds and limited parking will lead to lots of traffic. While some students are making plans to attend the draft in person, others are planning to watch from the comfort of their homes or avoid it altogether.

Colby Kostelac, a first-year majoring in mechanical engineering, said attending the draft is about more than just being a football fan.

“I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the draft come to the place you’re living in,” Kostelac said.

Kostelac said he’s going to the draft with five of his friends to listen to live music, play games and eat the free food.

“I’ll just go and do the free stuff on Friday or Saturday,” Kostelac said. “I heard there was food and games, and I think it will be cool to see.”

Coen Mullins, a first-year majoring in mechanical engineering, said he and his friends are biking to the North Shore on the first day of the draft. He said he is excited for the overall experience.

“I’m mostly excited for the atmosphere and seeing the top picks in person and being able to say ‘I was there,’” Mullins said.

Russel Chau, a first-year biology major, said he has been to the NFL draft before in Philadelphia when he was a kid and looks forward to experiencing the memorable moment again.

“I went to the draft in Philly like 10 years ago, and I just remember having fun there,” Chau said, “Now, I go to college here and [get] to experience that again. I’m looking forward to it.”

Michael Crnkovic, a first-year marketing major, said his friends from home are visiting Pittsburgh to attend the draft on Thursday, Friday and potentially Saturday. He said he looks forward to seeing the players in person.

“Even if we’re not up close to the stage, just seeing the stage and a couple of the players walk out is really cool because some of those people are huge. It’s impressive,” Crnkovic said.

Leo Marzigliano, a first-year urban planning major, is attending the draft with Crnkovic and said he looks forward to loudly booing the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, with other fans, a long-time tradition at the draft.

“It’s like a known thing in every draft. Everywhere they go, they boo the commissioner because he doesn’t do a good job,” Mazigliano said. “I want to do it in person. It’ll be fun.”

Some students, like junior environmental science major Brendan Hallisey, want to attend but may be too busy preparing for finals. Hallisey said he would love to catch a few picks of the draft in person if he has time to see the “overall hype” and the crowds.

“I know there’s been a lot of complaints about how we’re going to fit that many people down there, but I think it would be cool to see that many people in one place for such a unique sporting event,” Hallisey said.

Hallisey said while the draft is a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity for him personally, he is also excited for the opportunities the draft will bring to the City.

“I’m very excited, even if I don’t end up going,” Hallisey said. “It is a really cool opportunity for Pittsburgh to see. I think the economic benefits that it will bring to the City are definitely well worth it.”

Brady Leiner, a sophomore accounting major, said he doesn’t have a ticket but would go to North Shore with Hallisey if his schedule allows for it.

“Honestly, I’d like to go if I don’t have too much work going on because it’s the week before finals,” Leiner said. “It’d be cool to just go down and observe.”

Even if he is unable to make it to the draft, Leiner said he will still watch his team’s picks on TV.

“I’d still watch a little to see who my favorite team picks,” Leiner said. “I’m a Niners fan.”

Some students prefer to avoid the crowds and participate from their couches. Josie Daltorio, a first-year law criminal justice and society major, said she and her roommates plan to watch the NFL from their dorm room, while eating popcorn.

“I’ll be watching it at home because it’s too much to go downtown with the traffic,” Daltorio said.

Liz Bounaaly, a first-year biology major, also said she plans to watch the draft from her dorm.

“I’m going to stream it because it will be really crowded and Uber is probably going to raise the prices,” Bounaaly said.

Bounaaly said she is looking forward to the heartwarming family interactions that occur during the draft.

“I like when [a player] gets picked and the whole family comes up,” Bounaaly said. “It’s such a cute moment.”

Other students, like sophomore biology major Tammer Saeh, don’t want anything to do with the draft and plan to avoid it entirely.

“I’m doing anything but watching the NFL draft,” Saeh said. “I don’t like that the NFL Draft is [in Pittsburgh]. The City could be spending their money on other things.”