‘4 The Record’ counts down to the NFL draft in Pittsburgh

Sunday’s guests included the NFL’s director of special events.

WELCOME TO. FOR THE RECORD, I’M SHELDON INGRAM TODAY WE’RE KICKING OFF THIS WEEK WITH WHAT PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN PITTSBURGH’S HISTORY. OUR CITY HOSTING THE NFL DRAFT. THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE MAIN EVENT, WHICH KICKS OFF WITH ROUND ONE THURSDAY. AND IN TODAY’S SHOW, I TRAVEL TO ACRISURE STADIUM TO SIT DOWN WITH SEVERAL KEY PEOPLE INVOLVED WE BEGIN WITH MY SIT DOWN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE FARAGO, THE NFL DIRECTOR OF EVENT OPERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY TO TO DISCUSS THE THE ONGOING PLANS. WE ARE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT THIS TIME IN OVERALL PLANNING SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW, OUT IN THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE ACRISURE, WE’RE REALLY FOCUSING ON OUR DRAFT THEATER. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WE STARTED BUILDING BACK ON MARCH 28TH. IT IS THE LARGEST BUILD HERE FOR THE DRAFT. CURRENTLY, WE’RE INSTALLING SOME ARSENIC AND PRODUCTION ELEMENTS. SO YOU’LL SEE LED BOARDS GOING UP DESIGN ELEMENTS. AND THEN WE’LL LAYER IN THE TV PORTION OF THE DRAFT CAMERAS LIGHTING, AND THEN WE’LL GET INTO OUR SEATING. THE REST OF THE SITE IS ALSO IN MOTION. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR HOSPITALITY TENTS AND STRUCTURES GOING UP OUT IN THE COLD LOTS OUT THERE, AND JUST IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE FOOTPRINT, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR WHAT WE CALL OUR DRAFT EXPERIENCE ELEMENTS ALSO TAKING PLACE AND BEING BUILT, WHETHER THAT’S A BEER HALL, OUR RETAIL TENT WITH OUR PARTNER FANATICS OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF ACRISURE, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COMES WITH A LARGE SCALE EVENT LIKE THIS, RIGHT? RESTROOMS, CONCESSION TENTS AND THE LIKE. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER STATE PARK, WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENCE THERE. DRAFT EXPERIENCE FOOTPRINT EXPANDS TO POINT STATE PARK. SO THAT HAS STARTED TO BE STOOD UP OVER THERE AGAIN WITH DRAFT CENTRIC ELEMENTS. THE STEELERS ALSO HAVE A PRESENCE OVER THERE. POINT STATE PARK. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND YOU’LL ALSO SEE THE RED CARPET BEING BUILT. SO THAT’LL BE ACTIVE ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE PROSPECTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL WALK THE RED CARPET RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FOUNTAIN. PRIOR TO COMING OVER TO THE NORTH SHORE AND GETTING READY TO HEAR THEIR NAME CALLED. ALSO OVER AT POINT STATE PARK. SOMETHING NEW FOR DRAFTING. SOMETHING WE’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE PROJECTION THAT WE’RE PUTTING OUT ON THE WYNDHAM ON THE WYNDHAM HOTEL. SO IF YOU’RE OVER IN POINT STATE PARK OR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, GET A GOOD VIEW OF THE THE PROJECTION THERE FOR THE WYNDHAM AS WELL. SO THE PROJECTION IS GOING TO BE PLACED ON THE HOTEL ITSELF, ON THE HOTEL ITSELF. SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT POINT STATE PARK. I YOU KNOW, MY FIRST THOUGHT, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TV MONITORS, YOU KNOW, LARGE SCREEN TV MONITORS OUT THERE, BUT YOU’RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN OUTDOOR MONITOR ATTACHED TO HOTEL LIVE, BUT THEY’LL BE MOMENTS OF THE DRAFT CAPTURED AND PUT UP THERE. WE’RE ALSO GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT HISTORY OF WESTERN PA FOOTBALL. YOU KNOW, STEELER ELEMENTS. SO A BUNCH OF CREATIVE ASSETS THAT WILL BE PUT UP THERE. BUT WE’LL ALSO HAVE VIEWING SCREENS, YOU KNOW, SMALLER LED IN THE PARK. SO IF YOU’RE OVER THERE YOU COULD WATCH THE DRAFT AS WELL WHILE TAKING IN THE FESTIVITIES. SO WHILE COMING IN TO ACRISURE STADIUM HAS A LOOK AND FEEL OF A VILLAGE. YOU KNOW, FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT VENTURED TO THE NORTH SHORE SINCE MARCH AND. AND INTO POINT STATE PARK, THERE’S FENCING THAT IS SET UP AS AN ENCLOSURE FOR THE DRAFT FOOTPRINT, BUT IT HAS THE LOOK AND THE FEEL OF A VILLAGE. IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO CREATE? YEAH, IT’S IT’S ALMOST LIKE A MINI CITY, RIGHT? WITH THE AMOUNT OF STRUCTURES AND THE SIZE OF THE STRUCTURES THERE. SO WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE THAT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THE FANS, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE THE THEATER AS OUR ANCHOR OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE, AND THEN THAT’S SUPPORTED BY VARIOUS BUILDS, RIGHT? TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, WHETHER IT’S HOSPITALITY. WE ALSO HAVE A VAST SETUP FOR OUR BROADCAST PARTNERS, RIGHT? TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THIS EVENT TO THE WORLD, RIGHT? SO THEY’RE BUILDING BIG SETS THERE. WE HAVE PAT MCAFEE, ESPN ACTIVATING OUT IN THE PARKING LOTS AS WELL, AND IT REALLY SPANS A GOOD PORTION OF THE NORTH SHORE HERE. SO YOU HAVE THE THEATER AND SOME OF THE HOSPITALITY BUILDS ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE GOLD LOTS. AND THEN WE CONTINUE THAT VILLAGE AROUND THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STADIUM. BY THE WAY, ACTIVATING THE NEW STEELERS TURF FIELD JUST OUTSIDE OF AKRON ON THE SOUTH SIDE. WE DOT THAT WITH SPONSOR ACTIVATIONS. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR SPONSORS WITH INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS THERE. AND THEN AS YOU COME AROUND TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE STADIUM, THE FOOTPRINT CONTINUES. WE HAVE A DRAFT BEER HALL JUST OUT FRONT OF THE SCIENCE CENTER. AND AGAIN, THAT’S WHERE OUR LARGE RETAIL STORE IS. AND WE HAVE AN ENTRY ON THAT SIDE AS WELL. SO IF YOU’RE COMING TO THE SITE FROM THE WEST SIDE, YOU CAN COME IN OFF CASINO DRIVE. SO TO YOUR POINT, IT’S A, IT’S A VILLAGE. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD IT AND IT WILL LOOK LIKE THAT. AND WE’RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS. AND THAT’LL EXPAND ACROSS THE RIVER. SO WHILE WE’RE WATCHING THIS EVENT ON TELEVISION, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THE FASCINATING EVENTS ABOUT THE NFL DRAFT IS THE GREEN ROOM, GOOD OR BAD, DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU’RE CHOSEN, RIGHT? YOU SAID YOU’RE SETTING UP THE GREEN ROOM INSIDE THE GREAT HALL, CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT’S RIGHT. WE ARE BUILDING A CUSTOMIZED TEMPORARY GREEN ROOM, BUT IT WILL NOT FEEL TEMPORARY. RIGHT? IT WILL HAVE THAT VERY COMFORTABLE LIVING ROOM LOOK AND FEEL TO IT. YOU’LL ALSO SEE A LOT OF. PITTSBURGH ART CULTURE, RIGHT WEAVED INTO THE DESIGN AND ELEMENTS OF THE OF THE GREEN ROOM, WHICH IS REALLY SPECIAL. OUR CREATIVE TEAM TRYING TO PULL THAT, THAT THEMATIC THROUGH OF BRINGING PITTSBURGH TO LIFE, BUT WORKING IN GREAT CONJUNCTION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STEELERS AND BEING ABLE TO LEAN INTO THE USE OF ACRISURE, THAT’S A GREAT LOCATION FOR THE GREEN ROOM TO BE TELEVISED. OBVIOUSLY, TO THE MILLIONS WATCHING AT HOME, AND IT’S A GREAT LOCATION TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DO HEAR THEIR NAME CALLED FROM THE GREEN ROOM OUT ONTO THE STAGE, ROUGHLY GIVE YOU AN IDEA HOW LONG THAT WALK IS FROM THE GREEN ROOM TO THE STAGE. YEAH, PROBABLY ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF OR SO. YOU KNOW, WE THE ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING, RIGHT? THEY’VE GOTTEN THEY’VE GOTTEN PICKED. THEY. AND THEN THEY WANT TO GET OUT TO THE STAGE, HEAR THEIR NAME CALLING THE COMMISSIONER, GET THE JERSEY RIGHT. SO THAT’S ABOUT DEPENDING ON WHERE EXACTLY YOU’RE SITTING. BUT WE DON’T WANT TO MAKE THEM WALK TOO LONG. YEAH. AND DURING THAT WALK WE WILL SEE SOME FASCINATING ARTWORK FROM LOCAL ARTISTS, I UNDERSTAND. YEAH. KIM FOX DOING SOME GREAT WORK ON THE PLAYER WALK. WE HIGHLIGHT ALL 32 TEAMS AND IT’S REALLY BESPOKE AND HIGHLIGHTING THE LOCAL ARTISTS HERE IN PITTSBURGH. IT’S SOMETHING THAT ALSO THE PLAYERS ARE LEANING INTO, RIGHT? WE’VE SEEN ON THE BROADCAST IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN THEY WALK PAST THE TEAM THAT SHOWS THEM THEIR LOGO, RIGHT, GIVING A NOD TO THEIR TEAM AS THEY WALK UP. SO IT’S A GREAT THING FOR THE PROSPECTS TO KIND OF BE IMMERSIVE AND FEEL. AND THEN FROM A TELEVISION PERSPECTIVE, REALLY SHOWING OFF THE SKILL AND ARTWORK OF, OF A LOCAL ARTIST HERE AGAIN FOR THE PROSPECT, BUT THEN ALSO ON TELEVISION. LASTLY, THIS IS A MASSIVE EVENT, PERHAPS THE LARGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO 700,000 PEOPLE. LET’S TALK ABOUT SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WE DON’T WANT TO GIVE YOU WE WON’T GIVE AWAY THE STRATEGIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE, PRESENCE, AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT ONE MUST EXPECT TO ENTER INTO THE DRAFT VILLAGE. SURE, SURE. WORKING CLOSELY AGAIN FROM THE EVENT SIDE, NFL SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM LOCAL CITY OF PITTSBURGH PD ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND JUST PUTTING THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN PLACE AS WE WOULD FOR ANY NFL TENTPOLE EVENT, TO MAKE SURE IT IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FANS AND WORKERS AND ANYBODY ELSE COMING DOWN TO THE EVENT. WE HAVE OUR CLEAR BAG POLICY IN EFFECT, SO WE ENCOURAGE EITHER CLEAR BAG OR NO BAG JUST TO EXPEDITE THE SCREENING PROCESS COMING IN TO SITE WILL BE SIMILAR TO OTHER LARGE SCALE EVENTS OR FOOTBALL GAMES WHERE YOU’LL GO THROUGH MAGNETOMETER, AIRPORT STYLE SCREENING. WE WILL EXPEDITE THAT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE YOU GET IN. BUT YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT FOR AN EVENT OF THIS SIZE AND NATURE. IT’S SOMETHING WE TAKE SERIOUSLY, AND WE’VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING ON MAKING SURE THAT CAN HAPPEN. HOW MANY ENTRANCE POINTS RIGHT NOW ARE SET UP FOR THE PUBLIC? WE HAVE THREE MAIN ENTRIES HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE. WE HAVE ONE ON CASINO DRIVE AND THEN TWO TO THE EAST. WE HAVE ONE JUST OFF TONY DORSETT AND ONE DOWN ON RIVERFRONT. WE’RE CALLING THAT THE RIVERFRONT ENTRY. SO THREE MAIN ENTRIES HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE AND THEN ONE MAIN FAN ENTRY ON POINT STATE PARK, JUST OFF COMMONWEALTH, RIGHT OUTSIDE THE WYNDHAM. IF YOU’RE GOING DOWN TO POINT STATE PARK. LASTLY, WHEN DOES EVERYTHING OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC? 12:00 NOON ON THURSDAY. THE DOORS WILL OPEN. WILL WELCOME THE GUESTS IN THE DRAFT. THE SELECTION PROCESS STARTS AT 8:00 ON THURSDAY NIGHT, AND THEN WE’LL OPEN AGAIN ON 12 ON FRIDAY AND THEN A LITTLE EARLY ON SATURDAY. WE’LL START AT NINE. THE DRAFT SELECTION PROCESS WILL GO 8:00 ON THURSDAY, 7:00 ON SATURDAY, AND THEN NOON. BUT IT’S A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMING, EVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS STARTING. SO WE ENCOURAGE FANS TO COME DOWN EARLY, COME ALL THREE DAYS. IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THURSDAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE WORK COME FRIDAY OR COME SATURDAY, BRING THE KIDS OUT. IT’S ACCESSIBLE. IT’S A FREE EVENT, SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT ALL THREE DAYS. I MEAN, FOLKS WILL BE COMING IN TOWN ON WEDNESDAY AND YOU KNOW, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS GAWKING AT THE ENTRANCE POINT. SO THEY’LL JUST HAVE TO STAND THERE AND GO, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, WE’RE YEAH, WE WANT TO LET THAT ANTICIPATION GO A LITTLE BIT. RIGHT. BUT WE’LL GET YOU IN AND ALSO COME DOWN IF YOU COME DOWN WEDNESDAY, RIGHT. EXPLORE EVERYTHING THAT PITTSBURGH HAS TO OFFER. I’D BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T OFFER NOT JUST WHAT THE DRAFT IS OFFERING, BUT WHAT THE CITY DOES TOO. RIGHT. AND THAT’S A GREAT THING ABOUT DRAFT IT. IT’S REALLY A CANVAS TO HIGHLIGHT THE CITY. SO AS YOU GO BETWEEN THE TWO SITES, TAKE IN EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. YOU KNOW, WE’RE KIND OF CALLING IT A WALKING TOUR. TAKE IN THE FOOD, THE MUSIC, THE ENTERTAINMENT, EVERYTHING DOWNTOWN. IT’S GOING TO BE AN IMMERSIVE EVENT ACROSS THE TWO SITES. STILL AHEAD ON FOR THE RECORD, WE’RE JUST EXCITED TO WELCOME FOLKS HERE. THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN DOWNTOWN. IT REALLY IS THE HEART OF THE REGION. AHEAD OF THE PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP. ON WHY PITTSBURGH’S MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK WILL BE SPECIAL FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. WE’RE JOINED NOW BY JEREMY WALDROP, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP. YOU ARE A KEY PLAYER IN THIS WHOLE NFL DRAFT PREPARATION. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT BIG EVENTS DO YOU GUYS HAVE PLANNED? THAT’S NFL DRAFT CENTRIC AROUND THE CITY? YEAH. SO WE’VE BEEN READING UP DOWNTOWN, GETTING READY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO DESCEND IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AND HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE, WE COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED. WE’RE KICKING THINGS OFF WITH A RIBBON CUTTING OF MARKET SQUARE AT 4 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY. WE’RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THE GOVERNOR TO JOIN US TO WELCOME FOLKS BACK INTO A NEWLY RENOVATED MARKET SQUARE. SO THERE’S DOZENS OF RESTAURANTS AROUND THE SQUARE. WE’RE HAVING FREE MUSIC CONCERT. EVERYTHING BEGINS AT 4 P.M., AND THAT KICKS OFF A WHOLE EVENING OF LIVE MUSIC. WE HAVE 15 ADDITIONAL MUSIC VENUES AROUND THE CITY, ALL CELEBRATING AND WELCOMING OUR GUESTS WITH LIVE MUSIC. SO WE’RE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GET OUT. IT’S CALLED PITTSBURGH MUSIC EDITION. IT’S AGAIN AT VENUES AROUND THE CITY. ALL TYPES OF GENRES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED, AND THIS REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL THAT WE’RE SO PROUD OF AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT. SO WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? SO IT GOES FROM LAWRENCEVILLE, THE STRIP DISTRICT SOUTH SIDE. WE’RE UP IN MILLVILLE AT MR. SMALLS, AND THEN A HOST OF VENUES DOWNTOWN, SO YOU CAN GET OUT THERE AND, AND SEE WHAT WE ALL LOVE ABOUT PITTSBURGH, WHICH IS OUR LITTLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND POCKETS AROUND THE AROUND THE RIVERS. THERE’S A LOT OF FOLKS WILL BE ARRIVING IN TOWN ON WEDNESDAY. AND OF COURSE, THEY WANT TO SEE PITTSBURGH. THEY WANT TO GET A VIBE, GET A FEEL OF THE VIBE HERE. HOW WILL THESE FOLKS KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE CITY? SO WE’RE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO DOWNLOAD THE ONE PASS APP THAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THAT’S HAPPENING, BOTH INSIDE THE FOOTPRINT AND AROUND THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA. IT’S GOT ALL YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO SOME RETAIL AND RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOU FEEL LIKE A REAL PITTSBURGHER. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE 18 NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALL USED THE DRAFT DEADLINE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR DOORS OPEN. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A NEW BLACK OWNED BREWERY COLLECTIVE THAT’S OPENING UP ON FORBES AVENUE, A COCKTAIL SHOP ON PENN AVENUE. THESE ARE JUST A SMATTERING OF OFFERINGS. AGAIN, REALLY USING THE DRAFT AND THE EMPHASIS AND ENERGY COMING FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE THAT ARE JOINING US HERE IN THE CITY. BUT A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST BE HERE FOR THE DRAFT. THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR MONTHS AND YEARS FROM NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH WAS TALKED ABOUT. THAT PITTSBURGH CAN BE MARKETED THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, FASCINATING MARKETING PLATFORM. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO SEE ABOUT THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH WHEN 52 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WELL, OBVIOUSLY, IT’S A BEAUTIFUL CITY. THE SKYLINE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS TO FEEL WELCOMED AND ENGAGED, AND WE WANT THEM TO FIND THAT RESTAURANT OR REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THIS AMAZING CULTURAL DISTRICT WITH A WHOLE HOST OF, OF ASSETS THAT ARE HERE YEAR ROUND, SO THAT THEY PLAN THAT NEW TRIP. WE KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FOLKS DRIVING IN FROM, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR HOURS AWAY. WE WANT THEM TO FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE AND COME BACK AND EXPERIENCE IT TIME AND AGAIN. SO, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH IS MADE ABOUT PITTSBURGH’S FOOTBALL HISTORY, ITS LINEAGE. HOW WILL THE THE FOOTBALL LINEAGE OF THIS REGION BE PRESENTED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME TRICKS UP OUR SLEEVE. WE’RE GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU SOME HALL OF FAMERS THROUGHOUT THE WALK FROM POINT STATE PARK INTO MARKET SQUARE AND OVER INTO THE NORTH SHORE, SO YOU CAN GET YOUR PHOTO WITH SOME LIFE SIZE HALL OF FAMERS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE FOOTBALL TOWN SHOWING AT THE CAYMAN SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH IS A FREE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO GET DOWN AND EXPERIENCE THAT REAL AMAZING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FOOTBALL HERITAGE HERE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THAT’S STILL GOING TO BE SHOWN AT THE SCIENCE CENTER. YEAH, THAT WILL BE AT THE SCIENCE CENTER, ABSOLUTELY FREE THROUGHOUT THE DRAFT. NOW, THE HALL OF FAMERS YOU MENTIONED, WILL THEY BE IN PERSON? THEY NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN’T MAKE THAT MAGIC HAPPEN. BUT YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR SELFIE WITH A LIFE SIZE TOP TRADING CARD. ACTUALLY, OF THESE LEGENDS. OKAY. GOOD DEAL. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PREPARATIONS. WELL, WE’RE JUST EXCITED TO WELCOME FOLKS HERE. THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN DOWNTOWN. IT REALLY IS THE HEART OF THE REGION. AND THIS INVESTMENT THAT’S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, 95% OF IT IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR FOR MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME. AND SO WE WANT FOLKS, AGAIN, TO JUST GET OUT, EXPERIENCE THE CITY, TALK TO US, PITTSBURGHERS. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE PEOPLE HERE, AND WE WANT TO SHOW YOU OUR FAVORITE SPOTS WHERE WE’RE GOING TO GRAB A COLD DRINK OR PRIMANTI SANDWICH, HOW TO AVOID SOME OF THE LINES AND GET OUT THERE AND FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I READ AN EMAIL RECENTLY THAT THE FOLKS AT POINT PARK UNIVERSITY, THEIR STUDENTS, WILL BE INVOLVED AS AMBASSADORS. AND SO I IMAGINE YOU HAVE A HOST OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HELPING YOU GET THROUGH THIS, THIS EXCITING TIME. YEAH. THERE’S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE FOOTPRINT. WE’VE ACTUALLY HIRED 185 ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS AND JUGGLERS. THEY’RE GOING TO BE WELCOMING YOU THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN AND THE NORTH SHORE JUST REALLY CREATE A PARTY FESTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR FOLKS AS THEY’RE EXPERIENCING THE DRAFT. STILL AHEAD, DO NOT DRIVE. LET US GET YOU THERE. PITTSBURGH REGIONAL TRANSIT PLAN TO GET AROUND TOWN AND MAKING IT EASY DURING THE NFL DRAFT, AND HOW THEY’RE ABLE TO OFFER SOME FREE RIDES DURING THE BIG EVENT. WITH US NOW IS THE CEO OF PITTSBURGH REGIONAL TRANSIT, CATHERINE KELEMEN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING TRANSPORTATION AS IT RELATES TO THE NFL DRAFT, WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL STRATEGY AND MISSION FOR THIS MASSIVE EVENT? SO BROADLY, DO NOT DRIVE. LET US GET YOU THERE. WE HAVE TRAINS, WE HAVE BUSSES, WE HAVE SHUTTLES. OUR DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE. WHETHER YOU ARE WALKING OR YOU’RE USING A MOBILITY DEVICE. LET US GET YOU THERE. WE GOT YOU COVERED. THAT’S OUR MESSAGE AND THAT’S OUR STRATEGY. SO HOW DO YOU EXECUTE THE STRATEGY STARTING WITH THE CITY? GREAT. YEAH. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. I MEAN, WE HAVE 89 NEIGHBORHOODS HERE. WE DID. HOW DO YOU EXECUTE THAT STRATEGY? SO WITHIN THE CITY AND IN PART OF THE SOUTH HILLS, WE HAVE THE T LINES. THE T LINES WILL BE RUNNING EVERY 7 TO 8 MINUTES, AND THOSE WILL BE RUNNING UNTIL ONE IN THE MORNING, STARTING WITH DAY STARTING ON THURSDAY. SO WEDNESDAY NORMAL, GET ON READY. AND THEN THURSDAY MORNING WE WILL START RUNNING EVERY 7 TO 8 MINUTES. YOU’LL SEE ONE EVERY. THE TWO LINES WILL BE EVERY 15 MINUTES, BUT THE OVERLAP IS ABOUT 7 TO 8. THAT’S GOING TO GO ON UNTIL ONE IN THE MORNING. AND SHEETZ IS SPONSORING THE FARES FOR THE INCLINES AND FOR IT. WELL, FOR OUR INCLINE AND FOR ANYBODY COMING IN ON THE T. SO THAT’S GOING TO BE IN THE CITY. AND THEN IF YOU’RE ON YOUR REGULAR ROUTE TRYING TO GET TO YOUR JOB, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT NOW. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. WE’RE GOING TO RUN A SATURDAY SCHEDULE NOW. WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? FEWER FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE COMING INTO DOWNTOWN AND THIS FREES UP BUSSES THERE THAT WE CAN PUT INTO SHUTTLES AND FEED FOLKS IN FROM PARK AND RIDES. THAT GIVES THEM A DIRECT SHOT, BUT IT KEEPS THOSE FOLKS COMING FROM THE DRAFT FROM BEING ON OUR LOCAL SERVICE. AND WHILE YOU’RE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, HERE’S SOMEBODY TRYING THE LOCATION FOR THE DRAFT. SO THE CITY LINES VERSUS YOUR SUBURBAN LINES, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT THERE? I MEAN, THE FOLKS COMING IN FROM THE FROM THE SUBURBS, ARE THEY GOING TO LAND AT THE PARKING GARAGE AND THEN SHUTTLE IN FROM THERE? RIGHT. WE WILL HAVE A FOR PARK AND RIDES THAT HAVE NEW SHUTTLE TYPE SERVICES. ONE WILL BE COMING FROM MCCANDLESS, MONROEVILLE, THE UNIVERSITY PARK AND RIDE. AND TO THE SOUTH IT’S CALLED LARGE. THAT’S THE CITY, NOT JUST A DESCRIPTION. LARGE. PARK AND RIDE. COME ON THERE AND PARK AND YOU WILL CATCH A RIDE STRAIGHT INTO DOWNTOWN. THE BUSSES WILL STOP CLOSE TO POINT STATE PARK, REALLY, REALLY CLOSE ON THE NORTH SHORE. THEY’LL STOP AT FEDERAL AND GENERAL ROBINSON. SO WITHIN A BLOCK OF WHERE ALL THE ACTION IS HAPPENING AND THESE FARES ARE BEING PICKED UP BY THE PITTSBURGH HOST COMMUNITY AND THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION. SO SHOW UP, GET ON THE VEHICLE. WHY IS IT A BIG DEAL? THERE’S NOT A FAIR IT’S A GREAT IDEA, BUT THAT ALSO MEANS WE CAN RUN FASTER AND SMOOTHER BECAUSE EVERYONE’S NOT DOING THIS UP AT THE AIRPORT. SO JUST TO REPEAT THIS, YOU’RE SAYING THAT WHEN FOLKS LAND ON THE NORTH SIDE, THEY LAND NORTH SHORE OR DOWNTOWN, THEY WILL BE WITHIN A YEAR ON A NORTH SHORE WITHIN A BLOCK RIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE POINT? YES. AND WE SHOULD BE WITHIN A BLOCK OR TWO OVER AT POINT STATE PARK. IT’S AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE SECURITY PERIMETER. WE’RE GOING TO GET YOU MUCH CLOSER THAN YOU WILL GET IF YOU TRY TO DRIVE YOURSELF. SO YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AND THAT YOU DON’T EXPECT YOUR NORMAL WORKFLOW. WE DON’T TO COME TO DOWNTOWN WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SO THAT’S WHY YOU’RE RUNNING A SATURDAY SCHEDULE. YES WE ARE. SO THURSDAY, FRIDAY, WE KNOW DOWNTOWN EMPLOYERS HAVE MADE A LOT OF EFFORTS FOR FOLKS NOT TO COME IN. WE ALSO KNOW THIS IS A PERCOLATED OUT TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE’RE HEARING AS FAR AS OAKLAND THAT FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMING INTO THEIR OFFICES. SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE BUSSES OUT THERE WHERE THERE WON’T BE THAT MANY FOLKS OR YOU’RE GETTING TANGLED UP GETTING CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, DOING A SATURDAY SCHEDULE LETS US HAVE ROUTES THAT AREN’T AS MUCH DOWNTOWN. THEY’RE STILL HITTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY’RE STILL HITTING ALL OF OUR OUR BOROUGHS AND ALL THE PLACES WE WANT TO GO. AND IT GIVES US EXTRA CAPACITY TO HIT THOSE SHUTTLE ROUTES THAT ARE COMING IN. SO THAT LEADS YOU TO MY FINAL QUESTION. AND WITH SO MUCH ATTENTION GIVEN TO ACCOMMODATING THE NFL DRAFT, IS YOUR FLEET CHALLENGED OR COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY TO FACILITATE THESE PEOPLE? SO FOR SATURDAY SERVICE, RUNNING THAT SCHEDULE MEANS WE HAVE ENOUGH VEHICLES TO ALSO PICK UP THE ADDITIONAL SHUTTLES. AND RUNNING THAT SATURDAY MEANS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER ARE FOLKS WHO ARE WITH US. 334 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER OFTEN THEY RIDE, WE CAN GET THEM TO WORK. WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR PITTSBURGHERS AND OUR ALLEGHENY COUNTY FOLKS, AND IT LEAVES US THE ABILITY TO ALSO BE ABLE TO HIT THE SHUTTLES. SO IT’S SORT OF IT’S A WIN WIN FOR US. AND WHEN DOES THE SCHEDULE FLIP BACK TO NORMAL? SATURDAY MORNING. WE WILL SEE WILL BE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY. ALL THOSE DAYS WILL BE SATURDAY ON A BUS. WE’LL HAVE THE SHUTTLE ROUTES ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND THE RAIL SERVICE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. BACK TO NORMAL. AHEAD IN JUST TWO MINUTES. AN EARLY LOOK AT NEXT WEEK’S. FOR THE RECORD AND THE BIG EVENT IN PITTSBURGH. THAT’S COMING JUST ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NFL DRAFT. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD, COMING UP NEXT WEEK, A LOOK AHEAD TO THE PITTSBURGH MARATHON, A FULL WEEKEND OF EXCITING EVENTS IS SET TO HAPPEN JUST ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NFL DRAFT. AND WE SIT DOWN WITH THE HEAD OF P3R TO LEARN SOME OF HIS FAVORITE PARTS OF THE EVENT. YOU KNOW, I HAVE SO MANY OF THEM, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT STANDING AT THAT FINISH LINE AND SEEING THE EMOTION OF EVERYBODY’S FACE, WHETHER IT’S SMILES, WHETHER IT’S TEARS, I KNOW THEY’RE PROBABLY HAPPY TEARS. BUT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I ALWAYS KNOW THAT THAT PERSON SET OUT FOR A GOAL MAYBE NINE MONTHS AGO, MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO, PROBABLY GOAL THAT THEY DIDN’T KNOW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET TO THE END. AND SEEING THAT CULMINATE AT THAT FINISH LINE AND THE EMOTION AND THE HUGS AND HIGH FIVES THAT I’M ABLE TO GIVE, JUST REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GREAT ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE CAN BRING TO THE CITY. CATCH THIS ALL NEW FOR THE RECORD, NEXT SUNDAY MORNING AT 11, RIGHT HERE ON WTAE CHANNEL FOUR. AND THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY’S EDITION OF FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

‘4 The Record’ counts down to the NFL draft in Pittsburgh

Sunday’s guests included the NFL’s director of special events.

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Updated: 7:04 AM EDT Apr 17, 2026

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Sunday marks four days until Round 1 of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, and “4 The Record” marked the moment by sitting down with several guests who have a stake in the big event.Host Sheldon Ingram sat down with Steve Farago, the NFL’s director of special events, and learned about the draft set construction as well as the tents and other structures popping up on the North Shore and at Point State Park.“It’s almost like a mini city, right?” said Farago, “with the amount of structures and the size of the structures there.”Ingram also spoke with Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.Waldrup said, “We’ve been redding up downtown, getting ready for the thousands of folks that are going to descend in the Golden Triangle and here on the North Shore.”The final interview in this week’s episode of “4 The Record” was with Katharine Kelleman, CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, who had this message for Pittsburghers who are concerned about navigating traffic during the NFL draft:“Do not drive. Let us get you there. We have trains. We have buses. We have shuttles. Our downtown locations are accessible. Whether you are walking or you’re using a mobility device, let us get you there. We’ve got you covered.”WATCH THE FULL EPISODE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

PITTSBURGH —

Sunday marks four days until Round 1 of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, and “4 The Record” marked the moment by sitting down with several guests who have a stake in the big event.

Host Sheldon Ingram sat down with Steve Farago, the NFL’s director of special events, and learned about the draft set construction as well as the tents and other structures popping up on the North Shore and at Point State Park.

“It’s almost like a mini city, right?” said Farago, “with the amount of structures and the size of the structures there.”

Ingram also spoke with Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Waldrup said, “We’ve been redding up downtown, getting ready for the thousands of folks that are going to descend in the Golden Triangle and here on the North Shore.”

The final interview in this week’s episode of “4 The Record” was with Katharine Kelleman, CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, who had this message for Pittsburghers who are concerned about navigating traffic during the NFL draft:

“Do not drive. Let us get you there. We have trains. We have buses. We have shuttles. Our downtown locations are accessible. Whether you are walking or you’re using a mobility device, let us get you there. We’ve got you covered.”

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE