Stadium upgrade talks could quickly follow NFL Draft fanfare

A massive crowd will fill the area between Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park this week to watch the 32 NFL teams race against the clock to draft players.

After the draft leaves town, it may be the stadiums and their home teams that are on the clock: 30-year leases for the Pirates and Steelers are set to expire in 2030 and 2031, respectively, and talks are underway that could result in new long-term agreements, community benefits and major funding for stadium improvements.

If Pittsburgh’s history and those of other major league cities are any indication, forging new agreements may not be simple.

“There’s no doubt that the teams are looking for a lump sum to improve their stadiums,” said state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, who chairs the board of the Sports and Exhibition Authority [SEA], which owns the stadiums.