We are officially one day from the start of the 2026 NFL Draft. I'm sure many of you reading this are local to Pittsburgh, PA, or will be travelling in to watch the draft in person, and as someone who has been to many as a fan and journalist, it is an experience I highly recommend every fan do.
If you are planning to attend the draft, here are five things you don't want to forget.
The draft is a fully cashless event. If you have attended concerts recently you are probably accustomed to having all transactions being electronic but if you are someone who typically likes to pay with cash, it won't work for you at the draft.
If you are going to be at the draft, be sure to download the NFL OnePass app. This is the official digital companion for fans attending major NFL events throughout the year, such as the NFL Draft. Think of it as your all-access digital passport. It’s designed to streamline your experience on-site by consolidating tickets, schedules, and interactive features into one place. The QR code you generate is your digital ticket but it will provide you with so much more important information for the draft.
Plan ahead, use whatever public transportation you prefer but don't think you are going to show up and find a place to park with your own vehicle. The city is providing parking locations outside of the draft area for those travelling in and you can use Uber or some other service to get into the event itself but budget yourself plenty of extra time to get to and from.
If you are going to the draft, there are pretty strict rules about what fans can bring with them. You are welcome to bring a clear bag, a reusable water bottle that is empty when you get there and a small(not professional) camera. They do not want you bringing any sort of food or drinks, drones, signs, footballs, noise makers, or chairs. We know people still will but you do so at your own risk. The full list of dos and don'ts is here.
The draft is unique in sports as it's the biggest event that doesn't involve an actual game and it involves all 32 teams and their fans coming together for a common cause. There's no reason to ruin that for yourself or anyone else with bad behavior. The NFL Draft Experience by American Express is a great time and every fan should check it out. But you are going to be shoulder to shoulder with literally 10s of thousands of opposing NFL fans. Be adults and don't create problems.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: 5 things to know before to attending the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh