Pittsburg, PA

Did the NFL draft in Pittsburgh live up to the hype? An analyst breaks down the numbers.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 25, 2026

Did the NFL draft in Pittsburgh live up to the hype? An analyst breaks down the numbers.

A month after the conclusion of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh is out with new data that the organization says shows just how much of a historic success the draft was. However, a local analyst is casting doubt, saying the draft didn’t live up to the hype for some Pittsburghers.

KDKA-TV spoke to Visit Pittsburgh’s CEO and the executive director of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy to examine what aspects of the draft were successful, the challenges, and what could be done for future big events to avoid those challenges.

The new preliminary figures show 43% of attendees came from further than 50 miles from the city for the three-day event from April 23-25. The county-wide occupancy level for hotels averaged 75% throughout the event period. The figures drew different reactions.

Historic success

Showing why the draft was a success, Visit Pittsburgh points to the big attendance figures, relatively low emergency responses, big public transit ridership, and billions in public relations impressions.

“It certainly sets a new standard of what Pittsburgh can deliver,” Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of Visit Pittsburgh, told KDKA-TV. “It’s certainly the largest event that Pittsburgh’s ever hosted. And to our knowledge, it’s the largest sporting event that the Commonwealth has ever hosted.”

A key benefit the draft brought to Pittsburgh was exposure, Bachar said. Fifty-five million viewers tuned into the draft worldwide, according to Visit Pittsburgh. ESPN said that nationally, 13.2 million people tuned in on average to the draft’s first day, its most-watched day, across its broadcast and digital platforms.

In-person, 105 countries were represented across NFL OnePass registrants, and 43% of attendees traveled from outside a 50-mile radius.

“It tells us that this is very much not only just a regional event, but certainly a national event, and actually an international event,” Bachar told KDKA-TV. “Typically, for us and all of our research, anybody that’s coming from outside of a 50-mile radius is simply going to be an overnight guest.”

Sixty-five percent of attendees were Steelers fans, Visit Pittsburgh’s release said.

While the number of unique visitors the draft brought to Pittsburgh is not yet available, the NFL’s officially tabulated attendance, which is a combination of the official attendance on each draft day, was 805,000, making it the largest event in NFL history. In that figure, people who attended the draft on all three days were counted three times.

As KDKA-TV began reporting in the weeks ahead of the draft, the true number of fans who attended each day of the draft could be lower than the officially-released totals because of the way the NFL counts attendees at NFL drafts, which, according to multiple sources familiar with the city’s draft planning, counts an individual twice if they exit and reenter the draft footprint.

Digitally, the draft drew 14.8 billion PR impressions worldwide and became the most socially viewed draft on record, according to Visit Pittsburgh.

Bachar also highlighted how the community benefited from the draft, including investments like the new Arts Landing and renovations to Market Square and Point State Park.

“The way that this entire community came together to deliver an experience for football fans and for the NFL was absolutely extraordinary,” Bachar said.

Doubts cast

However, not everyone saw the draft as a smashing success.

“When you look at the economics of it all, it was just a party,” said Dr. Frank Gamrat, the executive director of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.

He did not dispute that the city looked great and had been spruced up, but said those improvements had been confined to just parts of the city.

“We got a nice one-time shot in the arm,” he said.

He explained that the biggest problem the draft faced was the expectations.

“Too many people put too much emphasis and expectations on what this could do for us as a region, growing jobs and benefits,” Gamrat said.

While full economic data won’t be available for months, Visit Pittsburgh did say $17.7 million was spent directly with Pittsburgh-based businesses as part of the NFL Draft Source Program, supporting 164 businesses as local suppliers.

Visit Pittsburgh also released preliminary hotel occupancy figures, calling it “substantial activity throughout draft week.” Downtown on peak nights, 92% of rooms were occupied. Hotel occupancy across the country peaked at 85%. County-wide across the “event period,” average occupancy was 75%.

In the weeks before the start of the draft, Visit Pittsburgh Board Chair Perry Ivery told KDKA-TV that as of April 1, nearly 60% of the county’s 19,000 rooms were booked for the three-day draft.

“Historically, in NFL draft events, there’s a surge in reservations 30 days out, with 20% being the last week,” Ivery said in the weeks ahead of the draft. “We’re still optimistic within the next two weeks that there’s going to be a surge in bookings.”

KDKA-TV asked Bachar if they saw the surge and, if not, what happened.

“The hotel performance was exactly where we would have expected it to be,” Bachar said. “We got to 80% on our peak nights, so those occupancy levels and those rate levels were certainly very much on par with what we expected and forecasted, as well as what we’ve seen in all of the previous host cities, at least the last three.”

He added that rates increased dramatically for hotels and short-term rentals. He doesn’t believe the higher room prices played a significant factor in occupancy levels.

Gamrat saw the hotel figures differently, saying hotel occupancy in Allegheny County usually sits around 65%.

“To say that 75% were full during the draft, that’s only an increase of 10%. That’s not a whole lot to get excited about,” Gamrat said. “The expectations were that you couldn’t get a hotel room within a two-hour drive of here, that hotels in Cranberry were going to be booked. But that just wasn’t going to be the case. So, 75% was a disappointing number.”

KDKA-TV asked Bachar why an event like the draft, and the hundreds of thousands of people it would bring to the city, wouldn’t automatically mean all hotels would be sold out.

“Well, when you have that many people coming in, you know they’re going to see various types of accommodation that are going to be used, Bachar said.

He noted there wasn’t any other programming taking place in the Cultural District, and conventions, which often bring many people to Pittsburgh, took the weekend off.

“The draft was really the only show in town, if you will, over that weekend, and it performed extraordinarily well,” Bachar said. “The hotel still did extraordinarily well, short-term rentals still did extraordinarily well.”

Chad Wise, whose company manages 150 short-term rentals in Pittsburgh, said that, according to Airbnb partner PriceLabs, occupancy on Day 1 was 78.4%, Day 2 was 75.6%, and Day 3 was 57.5%. Those same dates the previous year saw occupancies of 54%, 78%, and 83%, respectively.

“Rates were significantly higher, occupancy was mixed,” Wise said of the figures.

The challenges

While Bachar said most people have had a positive view of the draft, he said they have heard concerns about how businesses outside of the draft footprint struggled. Some businesses told KDKA-TV they had stocked up on either draft-related merchandise or food, and have taken big losses because of the small amount of business they ended up getting.

“We’re certainly very much aware of businesses in the Strip District and other parts of the city who were disappointed in the amount of people and foot traffic that they saw in their businesses,” Bachar said, “But that’s certainly very much expected for an event like this. People who are coming here, football fans and Pittsburghers alike, all want to be in and around the footprint itself.”

People expected to get rich off the event, Gamrat said.

“People with Airbnb listings, people with restaurants, people with parking spaces thought they were going to do very, very well on this, and they were sadly mistaken,” Gamrat said.

Asked about where the source of the confusion over what to expect came from, Bachar said it can be boiled down to “excitement.”

“When you see the numbers that the NFL draft draws, that excitement gets even more amplified,” Bachar said. “So, businesses certainly want to be prepared. In some cases, they go a little bit too far in their preparation.”

Gamrat said Visit Pittsburgh, along with city and state leaders, helped build that excitement, set the expectations, cheered on the event, and sent the message that people are going to make a lot of money off of it.

“Someone said to me, ‘Why would those politicians do that?’ Well, because they were spending public money. If you’re going to spend public money, you have to justify it, and you have to justify it by touting all the wonderful benefits,” Gamrat said. “People bought into it a little more than they should have.”

It’s for the same reason Gamrat said that context about draft attendance expectations was not front and center.

“They just said we’re going to bring in [500,000-800,000] visitors,” Gamrat said. “They never said [that’s an] accumulation over three days. They [never projected] unique out-of-town visitors.”

He pointed to the preliminary figures Visit Pittsburgh released this past week, which 43% of people came from outside a 50-mile radius of Pittsburgh.

“That means that 57% came in were locals, and so you have this notion of that’s displaced economic activity,” Gamrat said. “People didn’t go to Downtown, but maybe they went to Robinson, maybe they went to Wexford, maybe they went into Mount Lebanon, maybe they spent their money elsewhere.”

For example, he said that looking at casino data, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh took “a beating” in April, while Meadows and Live! Casino went up.

KDKA-TV asked Bachar if, when looking toward future big events, there’s something that Visit Pittsburgh or the city can do related to messaging to help set expectations at a more realistic level.

“Absolutely. I think that communication piece is critical,” Bachar said. “Leading up to this, we conducted close to 90 different civic organization presentations, or presentations to civic organizations and community groups throughout the entire area, making sure that we tried to set expectations from the beginning.”

He added that Visit Pittsburgh had ambassadors on the streets through the event, trying to guide people to the surrounding neighborhoods.

“That’s a good value lesson not just for us as a local host, but also for the NFL, as they set expectations in a lot of their future cities,” Bachar said. “I think in the future it really is just about managing expectations in line with all of the hype and excitement that comes with an event of that size.”

Gamrat said a balance has to be struck between hyping up events like this and setting realistic expectations.

“They should have said, ‘Look, Pittsburgh’s put our best foot forward, but everything’s going to be centered around this north, North Side, North Shore,’” Gamrat said.

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SportsNet Pittsburgh parts ways with Penguins rinkside reporter Hailey Hunter after three seasons

Published

7 hours ago

June 19, 2026

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SportsNet Pittsburgh parts ways with Penguins rinkside reporter Hailey Hunter after three seasons

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14+ things to do this weekend, from Juneteenth and Monster Jam to Summer Splash and Bubblesburgh

Published

18 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

14+ things to do this weekend, from Juneteenth and Monster Jam to Summer Splash and Bubblesburgh

What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, June 18-21? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.

Thursday, June 18-Sunday, June 21
Western PA Juneteenth and Black Music Celebration at Point State Park, Market Square and Liberty Avenue
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Honor the holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the U.S. at the largest Juneteenth festival in North America. For the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth, Stop the Violence Pittsburgh presents this four-day festival celebrating “freedom, culture and resilience.” Energizing Downtown Pittsburgh’s newly refurbished Market Square along with Point State Park and Liberty Avenue, the signature festival showcases live music and entertainment, cultural experiences, vendors and more.

The Main Stage will sizzle with performances by Lloyd, Leela James, Ill-Harmonic Orchestra, Musiq Soulchild, Fabolous and Marsha Ambrosius. The Juneteenth in the Square Stage will host a range of live music, from Final Draft, Big Jus & Steel City Horns and the ReaL DeaL Band, to Keith Washington, Brother Marlon Gospel Showcase and Evelyn Champagne King.

On Saturday, join the Grand Jubilee Parade stepping off at 11 a.m. from Freedom Corner pulsing with a high-energy steppers, dancers, horses and community groups. Support Black entrepreneurs at the Small Business Vendor Plaza lining Liberty Avenue with handmade goods, curated items and delicious cuisine. The free festivities also include a voting rights forum and youth fishing programs. Kicking off on the official U.S. federal holiday, the celebration culminates with Sunday’s All White After-Party at Club Enclave. Information. Read more about Juneteenth in NEXT.

Thursday, June 18
Made Local with Lisa Olszak Zumstein at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
7 p.m.
Presented by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, the Made Local series showcases prolific local authors and books with strong ties to the region. Next up to take the mic for Made Local is Pittsburgh-based author Lisa Olszak Zumstein, whose newest book examines the emotional, everyday and long-term effects of a catastrophic flash flood that ravaged Brady’s Bend 46 years ago. In just 40 minutes, a “record-breaking thunderstorm unleashed a disastrous amount of water” on the tiny town located in Clarion County along the Allegheny River as residents ran for their lives and nine people tragically drowned. Author of “The Brady’s Bend Flood of 1980,” Zumstein “reveals how this devastating storm mirrors numerous others in the Appalachian corridor.”

A native of the tightly knit rural Appalachian community of Brady’s Bend — where she grew up with eight siblings — Zumstein is focusing on writing after retiring from a 30-year career as a small-business owner. “The Brady’s Bend Flood of 1980” is available for purchase from White Whale Bookstore. Register for free.

In Bed By Ten featuring HUNY XO. Photo courtesy of Ava Grace Studios.
In Bed By Ten featuring HUNY XO. Photo courtesy of Ava Grace Studios.

Friday, June 19
In Bed by Ten Juneteenth Party at Spirit
6-9 p.m.
The dance party you love to stay out not too late for is back with a special Juneteenth edition. A celebration of music from the Black American diaspora, In Bed By Ten’s groovy Juneteenth soundtrack is curated by DJ Huny XO, who will be joined by DJs Femi and Yamez spinning R&B, hip-hop, house music and more. It’s a party with a purpose because proceeds benefit Sibyls Shrine, an art collective and residency program rooted in radical care, rest and support. Don’t actually need to be in bed by 10 p.m.? After bonding with all your new besties on the dance floor, stay late for the after-party by Mostbeautifullest, also curated by Huny XO. Tickets.

Eugène Louis Boudin, “The Beach at Trouville,” circa 1887–96. Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Robert B. Woodward, 15.314. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.

Saturday, June 20
“French Moderns: Matisse / Renoir / Degas” at The Frick Pittsburgh
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
This summer, Pittsburghers have the chance to experience landmark works by some of history’s most well-known artists when The Frick Pittsburgh opens it newest exhibition this weekend. Featuring approximately 60 artworks that “position France as the artistic center of international Modernism from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries,” the exhibition runs through Oct.11. The exhibition includes paintings, drawings and sculptures by renowned artists Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Henri Matisse, Berthe Morisot, Gabriele Münter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Auguste Rodin.

Visitors will also examine major avant-garde art movements, from realism, impressionism, post-impressionism and symbolism, to Fauvism, cubism and surrealism. To augment the exhibition, the Frick is also presenting dozens of public programs, including film screenings, workshops, lectures and collaborative events with BB&Bur Pastry Kitchen and Bakery and Pittsburgh artist Ron Donoughe. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
Festa Di Limoncello at Vallozzis Pittsburgh
2-5 p.m.
Sure, we don’t have the Amalfi Coast … but we do have the Festa di Limoncello. Raise a glass to the first weekend of summer with the perfect al fresco libation. Dubbed “Cello Fest” the event celebrates everything limoncello, transforming the restaurant’s open-air lounge into a breezy tableaux. An entire afternoon dedicated to the classic and irresistible Italian lemon liqueur, the sixth annual festival showcases new, unique limoncello flavors and an upgraded VIP experience. Sip 10 flavors of house-made cello while exploring an expanded festival footprint that includes the Fifth Avenue sidewalk and continues around the corner to McMasters Way.

Admission includes unlimited tastings, two drink tickets for craft cocktails, Italian-inspired bites, games and entertainment. Oh Snap Pgh will be on site to help revelers capture the fun on film, while DJ Wade Anthony will keep the party hopping with energetic beats. This year’s newly upgraded VIP experience includes early admission at 1 p.m., along with a swag bag full of limoncello-themed goodies, a specialty food spread, concierge service and exclusive access to a private lounge in the newly renovated Fresh Mozzarella bar. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20, & Sunday, June 21
Antique Skyscrapers Rooftop Tours in Downtown Pittsburgh
10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Local author and skyscraper aficionado Mark Houser wants Pittsburghers to “keep looking up.” Literally. If you’re looking for a creative gift for that father figure in your life, or a special outing to experience together, why not try a skyscraper rooftop tour? Join Houser and other intrepid tour-goers to climb atop four historic Pittsburgh skyscrapers. Take in breathtaking views and explore the remarkable stories behind these local landmarks from way above the Golden Triangle.

See all the way to Oakland from the 29th floor balcony of the 1929 Art Deco Koppers Building, and admire the ornate Beaux-Arts terracotta cornice of the Oliver Building designed by renowned Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Head to the top of the Clark Building for a close-up rooftop view of the baroque red-domed skyscraper next door, and then “face off against the courthouse tower” from the balcony of the rooftop Union Club in the Frick Building. At each stop on the Downtown walking tour, attendees will discover new perspectives and “hear entertaining and surprising stories about the people behind the buildings.” Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
PONY UP: A Celebration of the Year of the Fire Horse at Tree Pittsburgh
6-10:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse at magic hour along the Allegheny River. Taking place on the cusp of the summer solstice, the one-of-a-kind festivities are presented by the Pittsburgh-based Asian American & Pacific Islander artist collective JADED. The festival will highlight collective rituals, while making space for shared feeling. Featured performers include Viii Dorsey, philophilm, DJ Formosa, and LEXCD.

Pittsburgh’s queer line dancing group 412 Step will be lead attendees in guangchangwu. A central aspect of public life in China and other parts of Asia, guangchangwu or auntie plaza dancing is a tradition spanning many generations. The event will also include a public mourning ritual led by Monkey Wenches LLC. Says JADED organizer: “This is a party that aims to return us to radical dreaming in the face of ICE kidnapping our neighbors and US-backed war in Palestine, Iran and Lebanon. How do we grieve what our communities have lost, what has been taken forcibly? How do we ground in our desires for this Year of the Fire Horse and forge our own ways forward?” Information.

Saturday, June 20
Bubblesburgh at The Waterfront
1-4 p.m.
Float on over to Homestead to frolic with millions of bubbles. The Waterfront ushers in the season of summer fun with this festive afternoon dubbed Bubblesburgh. Celebrate all things bubbly — bubble machines, interactive bubble zones, balloon animals and more. Compete in a bubble-blowing contest, bounce around to live beats from kidmental and shop in the vibrant vendor market. Offering hands-on activities for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages, the free event will also feature local food and beverage vendors. Information.

Saturday, June 20
Summer Splash at Kamin Science Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dive into summer with this splash-tastic day of hands-on science, outdoor excitement and riverfront activities presented by ALCOSAN. Get moving with outdoor games, blow giant bubbles and visit an interactive rain garden. Strike a pose at a riverside dance party with DJ Vanessa, and meet our local aquatic neighbors, including fish, amphibians and reptiles that call our rivers home. Cool off by building a mini snowman, join a summer-themed photo scavenger hunt and hop aboard history to visit a real Cold War-era submarine. Explore the fascinating science of water as you discover how ALCOSAN keeps our rivers clean and healthy. Soak up the sun’s rays as you take in dramatic views of Pittsburgh’s three rivers from the terrace. All activities are included with general admission.

All photos courtesy of Monster Jam.

Saturday, June 20
Monster Jam at Acrisure Stadium
12:30-3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Watch from the edge of your seat when the North Shore stadium roars to life with mind-blowing live motorsports action. World-class athletes driving state-of-the-art trucks to perform gravity-defying stunts can only mean one thing: Monster Jam is back. Follow all the full-throttle thrills and heart-pounding races as 12,000-pound trucks defy the laws of physics, stand on two wheels and soar through the air during competitions of speed and skill. Be there when the world’s top drivers tear up the dirt on perfectly engineered tracks, battling it out for event championship titles in three competitions: racing, skills and the fan favorite freestyle.

Get ready to cheer on Tyler Menninga in the famed Grave Digger and Ryan Anderson celebrating 15 years with Son-uva Digger. Don’t miss Sparkle Smash, “the 6-ton unicorn with a bold attitude” driven by Kayla Blood, and find Bryce Kenny behind the wheel of the new Tech Deck Wreck Deckä, inspired by skateboarding. Even cooler? Fans will be right in the heart of all the action, helping to crown the Event Champion as they score drivers in real-time based on skills, stunts and saves. Start the fun early at the Monster Jam Pit Party, a must for selfies with the trucks, autographs from drivers and family-friendly activities. Don’t Miss the Monster Jam Trackside Experience happening about an hour before the opening ceremonies, to enjoy driver interviews, pit crew sneak peeks and special giveaways. Tickets.

Saturday, June 20
Fiesta Del Sol
6 p.m.
Location details will be provided with ticket purchase
There’s never been a more critical time to support the work of Casa San José. If you’re inspired to help Pittsburgh’s immigrant neighbors as violent ICE activities occur around the country, Fiesta Del Sol is a positive way to get involved while also celebrating Latino heritage and culture. Enjoy an evening “dedicated to community, connection and meaningful impact,” while helping to raise critical funds for Casa San José. The festivities will feature music by DJ TI|ZA, a photo booth, a raffle with 20 Latin American-themed baskets and a wine pull. The silent auction features art, memorabilia and specialty pieces, including three items autographed by Bruce Springsteen especially for Fiesta Del Sol. Join supporters, families and local leaders who are committed to continuing the nonprofit’s work, strengthening community and uplifting lives. The VIP Party starting at 5 p.m. includes an exclusive wine tasting, Argentinian cuisine, valet parking and live music by Geña & Peña. General admission festivities start at 6 p.m. Tickets.

Sunday, June 21
Make Music Day Pittsburgh at Schenley Plaza and the Schenley Park Visitor Center
11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Nature, music and community will converge to welcome summer in Oakland. Join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to explore the musical side of the city during this special edition of the organization’s Family Day series. Showcasing Pittsburgh’s diverse musical community, the daylong celebration features performances ranging from opera and jazz to folk, bluegrass and acoustic music throughout Schenley Plaza and the Schenley Park Visitor Center. The festivities also include sensory-friendly programming and hands-on musical experiences for all ages. While there, be sure to hop on the PNC Carousel for a free ride. Schenley Plaza will burst with music from Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Azure Family Concerts, The KRUNK Movement and Center of Life Jazz, and the Shade Tree Collective. Performing over at the Schenley Park Visitor Center will be Wild Orchids, Donna Occhipinti, Ray Pelletier and Mars Loves You. Information.

Sunday, June 21
Disco Sunday Disco at Trace Brewing
3-9 p.m.
Dance for a very important local cause when Disco Sunday Disco fills Clement Way with life-affirming summer solstice vibes. Commune on the open-air dance floor along the color-soaked “Graffiti Alley” with hundreds of your newest BFFs alongside the Bloomfield brewery. There is no such thing as the Sunday Scaries here. Under the disco ball tent and on the decks for the June edition will be resident DJs Hoagie Dreams and Dini Daddy keeping dancers jovial. Stay sated with bites from the Streets on the Fly Food Truck parked out front. Sway into the sunset to help raise money for the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit ARYSE, which supports immigrant and refugee youth. Information.

Sunday, June 21
Summer Sounds with Weather Permitting at Hazelwood Green
6-10 p.m.
Unwind after the weekend and get recharged for the week ahead when one of the city’s favorite outdoor concert series returns. Weather Permitting and Hazelwood Local team up to bring the summer vibes, with huge helpings of global music and cuisine, to the bucolic green space along the Mon. Based in Naucalpan on the outskirts of Mexico City, Son Rompe Pera will fill the site’s Woodlawn Meadow with their unforgettable marimba-infused music and unique blend of punk and cumbia sounds. Arrive with an appetite because Kilimanjaro Flavour will be serving up East African dishes, and local breweries will be on site. Free for all ages, the event also includes family-friendly games and local vendors. A limited number of lawn seats are available, and attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. Information.

Find more summer concerts here

9 more things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend

Thursday, June 18: Midsummer Mingle at Allegheny RiverTrail Park, 6:30-10 p.m.

Thursday, June 18 : The Black Studio presents a screening of “Chocolate Babies” at Bottom Feeder Books, 7-9 p.m.

Friday, June 19, & Sunday, June 21: Resonance Works presents “Roméo & Juliette” at the New Hazlett Theater, 8 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: POGOH Community Slow Roll Series at the Tioga Street and Homewood Avenue POGOH station, 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 20: World Refugee Day Conference at the Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: PA Running Series 5K at Altered Genius Brewing Co., 11 a.m.

Saturday, June 20: Carnegie Celebrates Juneteenth at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: Mount Oliver Borough Juneteenth Block Party along the 100–200 block of Brownsville Road, 6-10 p.m.

Saturday, June 20: fireWALL Dance presents “COVEN” at the Greer Cabaret Theater, 8 p.m.

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Penn Township votes to ban e-bikes, e-scooters in Municipal Park Complex

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Penn Township votes to ban e-bikes, e-scooters in Municipal Park Complex

Updated on: June 18, 2026 / 2:53 AM EDT
/ CBS Pittsburgh

Penn Township has voted to ban e-bikes and e-scooters from the township’s Municipal Park Complex.

During a commissioners meeting on Wednesday evening, the board passed an ordinance that will prohibit e-bicycles and e-scooters from operating within the townships Municipal Park.

“The decision was based on safety concerns for park visitors as well as the riders of the bikes and scooters,” said Penn Township secretary/manager Mary Perez.

Earlier this week, Perez told KDKA that the township has received complaints regarding the use of bikes and scooters in the park complex and that the board had considered other options like helmet requirements and speed limits, but found those difficult to enforce.

The Municipal Park Complex off of Raymaley Road is where the township’s municipal offices are located along with the library, a fishing pond, dog park, skate park, pavilions, and nearly a dozen baseball fields.

With the passing of an ordinance related to e-bike usage, Penn Township becomes the latest municipality in the Pittsburgh area to bring the topic to the forefront of discussion.

Earlier this month, Center Township Police in Beaver County urged parents to talk to their children after police said children on e-bikes caused serious damage to a new park.

After an e-bike crash happened in Bethel Park earlier this year, police took to social media to remind parents and families that even if kids are old enough to ride e-bikes, they still have to abide by the rules of the road — following traffic lights, the signs, and the signals.

Around the time of the Bethel Park reminder, Brentwood Borough also sent out a reminder, saying “motorized recreational vehicles” are not allowed anywhere in the borough, which includes streets, sidewalks, and parks.

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