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Pittsburgh Steelers officially submit bid to host NFL Draft

Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: A Pittsburgh Steelers fan looks on in the fourth quarter during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) (Justin Berl/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH — Friday, the Steelers organization announced it officially submitted its bid to host either the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft.

>> City of Pittsburgh, Steelers look to host NFL Draft

Steelers fans and North Shore business owners alike are excited by the prospect of the NFL Draft potentially coming to Pittsburgh.

“I think that would be awesome,” Steelers fan David Bruno said.

“Man, that would be amazing,” Paul Lambert, the operating partner of Tom’s Watch Bar, said.

“If I could be here for that, I don’t think I have any words for that, that would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me, I think.  I would love to do that. I would love to see it,” Bruno said.

The major April event would bring a huge boost to business for North Shore restaurants and bars.

“We all know North Shore is a little bit slow this time of year and when you get something like that, any kind of revenue helps, especially down here,” said Lambert.

For Lambert, a draft in Pittsburgh would not be his first rodeo.

He estimates it could bring a 50% increase in revenue that week.

“Tom’s is nationwide. I was lucky enough to be able to run the Vegas location for a couple of years and we had the draft there and even for Vegas, it increased sales, it increased traffic, it increased revenue, so I would expect nothing less from Pittsburgh,” Lambert said.

Now, the waiting game is on, until the NFL makes a decision.

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