In less than two years from now, the city of Pittsburgh will welcome hundreds of thousands of football fans to the city for the 2026 NFL draft.
It's expected to be one of the largest events ever hosted in the city. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has pledged to spend $1 million to partner with VisitPittsburgh to support and coordinate services for the event.
But some members of city council are questioning the mayor's move because of the hefty price tag, with one councilman calling it "irresponsible".
We applaud the mayor for making the financial commitment.
By all accounts, this event is likely to be an economic boom for local businesses, restaurants and hotels, with some officials predicting the draft could draw the largest tourist crowds in Pittsburgh history.
It's no secret that football is big business for our city. A just-released report in the Pittsburgh Business Times states that the Steelers franchise brought in 3.4-billion dollars to Allegheny County alone over a four-year period.
In an era where our government leaders are taken to task for continuous wasteful spending, and rightly so, this is one instance where a politician is putting his money where his mouth is.