WELCOME TO. FOR THE RECORD, I’M ANDREW STOCKEY THIS MORNING SELLING THE STEEL CITY THROUGH SPORTS. BLACK AND GOLD ARE THE COLORS OF OUR PRO TEAMS, AND THAT HAS TURNED TO GREEN FOR THE REGION AND ITS ECONOMY. THIS MORNING. THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF SPORTS FOR OUR REGION’S DEVELOPMENT. GO WELL BEYOND THE BIG THREE. WHETHER IT’S A COOL SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN THE FALL, A WARM SUMMER WEEKEND NIGHT ON THE NORTH SHORE, OR A COLD WINTER EVENING UPTOWN IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, BRING PEOPLE TO THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND FOR THOSE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SELL OUR CITY, IT PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE PITTSBURGH. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT OUR TEAMS HAVE COME TOGETHER AROUND A COMMON THEME CERTAINLY HELPS, HELPS CREATE A BRAND FOR THE CITY. BUT PRO TEAMS ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG WHEN IT COMES TO USING THE CITY’S SPORTS LANDSCAPE TO BRING TOURISTS AND BUSINESS TO OUR TOWN. FROM THE VINTAGE GRAND PRIX TO THE PITTSBURGH MARATHON TO HOCKEY’S FROZEN FOUR AND MANY NATIONAL COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALL EXPOSING A NEW AUDIENCE BOTH IN PERSON AND ON TV, TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF PITTSBURGH. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TOWN, WE’RE FOCUSED ON EVENTS THAT BRING PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN. THEY’RE COMING WITH AND THEY’RE INJECTING NEW MONEY INTO OUR ECONOMY. NOW, PITTSBURGH IS THINKING BIG, REALLY BIG. THE SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY COMMITTING UP TO $90,000 TO SEE IF WE CAN BECOME HOME TO A PRO BASKETBALL TEAM. WHILE THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS ARE BIDDING TO BRING THE NFL’S SECOND BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENT TO OUR CITY, THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT, WE THINK WE’RE WHERE PITTSBURGH IS LOCATED, NOT ONLY WHERE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF STEELER FANS, BUT WE’D HAVE THOUSANDS OF FANS FROM ALL OF THE NFL CITIES THAT ARE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LET’S SAY WITHIN A 500 MILE RADIUS OF PITTSBURGH. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, A HUGE VISITOR EVENT FOR THE CITY. AND THAT IS WHERE OUR CONVERSATION BEGINS. THE STEELERS HAVE FORMALLY SUBMITTED THEIR BID TO HOST THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT IN EITHER 2026 OR 2027. NASHVILLE PHIL CLEVELAND KANSAS CITY HAVE PLAYED HOST IN RECENT YEARS. I SPOKE WITH STEELER PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II SHORTLY BEFORE HE PRESENTED THE TEAM’S BID. ONE THING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO ME ABOUT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRAFT COMING TO PITTSBURGH. IN 2026 OR 27. FIRST OF ALL, WHERE IS THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF PROPOSAL AND LETTING THE LEAGUE KNOW THAT PITTSBURGH WANTS TO HOST THE DRAFT? YES, WE’RE IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE BID THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE SUBMITTING TO THE LEAGUE SOON. AND WE ARE EXPECTING AND HOPING. TO TO HAVE A DECISION COME FROM THE LEAGUE LATER THIS SPRING. AND I WOULD SAY WE’RE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PITTSBURGH HOSTING THE DRAFT HERE. AND 26 OR 27. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE DRAFT HERE IN PITTSBURGH? I MEAN, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE, NUMBER ONE, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST VISITOR EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. AND SO IT’S VERY EXCITING. YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE’RE WE’RE PITTSBURGH IS LOCATED. NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF STEELER FANS, BUT WE’D HAVE THOUSANDS OF FANS FROM ALL OF THE NFL CITIES THAT ARE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LET’S SAY WITHIN A 500 MILE RADIUS OF PITTSBURGH. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, A HUGE VISITOR EVENT FOR THE CITY. UH, WE’D LIKE TO HAVE THE MAIN STAGE AND THE FOCUS OF IT BE OVER ON THE NORTH SHORE, RIGHT NEXT TO ACRISURE STADIUM. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IT’LL IT’LL SPILL OVER INTO DOWNTOWN, DOWN AND POINT PARK AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THROUGH THE CITY. SO IT WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WE’RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SUBMITTING OUR BID. AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS OF, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE THAT WE’RE GOING TO NEED TO SUPPORT THIS AND SPEAKING OF THAT, THE STADIUM AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY SAID, WE’RE GOING TO GET INVOLVED AND WE’LL GET INTO CONTRACTS WITH THE NFL IF THIS HAPPENS. THERE’S TALK ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN. UH, THIS CLEARLY IS A TEAM EFFORT TO BRING THE DRAFT TO PITTSBURGH. IT’S A TEAM EFFORT, AS YOU SAID, AND CERTAINLY, UH, OUR FRIENDS AT VISIT PITTSBURGH HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. THE MAYOR’S OFFICE HAS BEEN HELPFUL. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE HAS, YOU KNOW, HAS OFFERED TO BE HELPFUL AND AND CERTAINLY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. SO IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE CITY TO PULL IT OFF. WE’RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE STADIUM AUTHORITY AND NEXT, THE SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY. JUST MAKING SURE THE BASIC SITE IS AVAILABLE TO US. SO A LOT OF PIECES OF THE PUZZLE, UH, A LOT OF COORDINATION IS, IS COMING. BUT WE’RE OPTIMISTIC THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S GOING TO ALLOW PITTSBURGH TO SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO AS AS FAR AS ATTRACTING A MAJOR EVENT LIKE THIS. I WAS GOING TO ASK, I MEAN, IF YOU GET THE DRAFT AND IT’S A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND YOU HOST IT HERE, WHAT COULD THAT LEAD TO? COULD IT LEAD TO TO? WELL, OBVIOUSLY NOT THE BIG ONE, BUT OR MAYBE IT COULD. YOU KNOW, I’M NOT GOING TO ELIMINATE ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, IF THE LEAGUE EVER GOT BACK INTO THINKING ABOUT HOSTING THE SUPER BOWL IN A NORTHERN CITY, WE’LL RAISE OUR HAND AGAIN. SO BUT YOU KNOW, WE WHETHER IT’S, YOU KNOW, THE DRAFT OR FUTURE DRAFTS OR OTHER BIG EVENTS, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR THE CITY TO, TO SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO. STILL AHEAD, THERE’S SUCH A DIVERSITY OF EVENTS THAT WE HOST HERE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON GROWING THAT ANY WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN. VISIT PITTSBURGH. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING ALL TYPES OF SPORTING EVENTS TO THE STEEL CITY. WELCOME BACK TO. FOR THE RECORD, A SINGLE EVENT COULD PUT A CITY IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. SO IT CAN. EVENTS LIKE THE NFL DRAFT DO FOR A WELL-KNOWN PLACE LIKE PITTSBURGH. I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT PITTSBURGH ABOUT THE DRAFT AND THE IMPACT BEING MADE BY SEVERAL ANNUAL SPORTING EVENTS. LET’S START BY TALKING ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF MARKETING, TOURISM AND SPORTS. THE NFL DRAFT. THE BID HAS BEEN MADE, AND YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS A GARGANTUAN EVENT. JUST HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS? NOT JUST TO HOST IT, BUT JUST TO GET ALL THE ELEMENTS TOGETHER, TO PUT IT ON? WELL, I THINK I MADE THE COMMENT TO YOU THAT IT WAS IT’S A GARGANTUAN EVENT. IT’S A GARGANTUAN EFFORT. BUT OF COURSE, WITH THAT COMES GARGANTUAN REWARDS. SO I THINK IT’S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. IT’LL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS PITTSBURGH HAS EVER HOSTED. THE NFL DRAFT, OF COURSE, IS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONE EVENTS OF THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE. I THINK THAT THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PITTSBURGH TO REALLY SHINE WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING AN EVENT OF THAT SIZE AND AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT COME IN FOR IT IS IS MASSIVE, OF COURSE, OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THEN ALSO THE WORLDWIDE VIEWERSHIP WHERE PITTSBURGH IS, IS GOING TO BE THE BACKDROP TO THIS AMAZING DRAFT FOR PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE FOOTBALL FANS. CAN YOU GIVE US A VISUAL OF WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF WHERE IT MAY HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE VARIOUS VENUES YOU’RE LOOKING AT? WELL, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT COMES DOWN TO THE NFL AND WHERE THEY WANT IT TO BE. SO WE HAVE PROPOSED A LOT OF DIFFERENT SITES IN AND AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH REALLY WORKS. THE BEST FOR THOSE KIND OF EVENTS. JUST BECAUSE IT HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT. RIGHT NOW, THEY’RE LOOKING AT THE NORTH SHORE RIGHT NEXT TO ACRISURE STADIUM. AND THEN OF COURSE, USING A LOT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREAS AS ANCILLARY VENUES. I THINK THERE IS THERE’S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO REALLY GIVE THE NFL A LOT OF REALLY SOLID OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING AN EVENT LIKE THAT IN PITTSBURGH, BUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS THE BEST OPTION REALLY, FROM A WALKABILITY STANDPOINT, WE’RE EXPECTING OVER 300,000 VISITORS OVER THOSE FOUR DAYS. WHEN THE DRAFT IS TAKING PLACE. SO GETTING PEOPLE CENTRALIZED IN A DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE THEY DON’T HAVE TO GET IN CARS AND DRIVE TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE OF THE EVENT, THEY CAN THEY CAN DO IT ALL BY FOOT. IS IS IDEAL. ARE YOU LOOKING AT EITHER 2026 OR 2027? CORRECT? CORRECT. WE SUBMITTED A BID OFFICIALLY FOR EITHER ONE OF THOSE YEARS. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN TRYING TO HOLD SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE FOR PITTSBURGH? I MEAN, I’M SURE EVERY CITY HAS CHALLENGES IN HOSTING AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT ANY CITY IS GOING TO HAVE IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THE PLAYERS AT THE TABLE. SPEAKING OF OF EVERYONE, ONE, FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL STANDPOINT THAT’S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE EVENT FROM THE AIRPORTS TO THE CITY TO THE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE TEAM IN THIS CASE, ALL OF THE VENUE OPERATORS, IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE VARIOUS EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AND YOU LOOK AT JUST THE CONTEXT OF DOWNTOWN, IT COULD BE EVENTS AT ACRISURE STADIUM, BUT ALSO AT STAGE AE, THE CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER, THE WARHOL MUSEUM AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. ALL OF THE HOTELS. SO ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUAL VENUES HAVE TO BE OF THE IN THE SAME PLACE. THEY ALL HAVE TO BE AROUND THE TABLE SAYING, WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS TOGETHER. LUCKILY IN PITTSBURGH WE HAVE THAT MOMENTUM. WE’VE GOT THAT POSITIVE COLLABORATION ESTABLISHED. SO I THINK WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO BRING IT TOGETHER QUITE EASILY. AND RECENT WEEKS, YOU’VE HAD SOME STAKEHOLDERS SIGN ON AND SAY WE WILL BE PART OF THIS EFFORT. ABSOLUTELY. YES. AND THAT THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF OF, OF, OF DOING AND CONVINCING. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NFL DRAFT, THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND BUILD A STAGE. THIS IS THERE’S NOT A STAGE THAT EXISTS REALLY ANYWHERE THAT THEY CAN GO IN AND JUST JUST SET UP AND HOLD THE EVENT. THEY HAVE TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING OF THAT SIZE. THEY DID IT IN KANSAS CITY. THEY’LL DO IT IN DETROIT, THEY’LL DO IT IN GREEN BAY, AND THEN HOPEFULLY IN PITTSBURGH THE YEAR AFTER. BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. AND YOU’RE TALKING AROUND 5 TO 6 WEEKS. SO THAT CAN BE DISRUPTIVE TO ANYTHING THAT’S AROUND THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO IT DOES TAKE EVERYBODY COMING ON BOARD AND LUCKILY WE’VE GOT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. JARED LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF SELLING THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH MARKETING AND TOURISM AND THE FOCUS ON SPORTS. HOW DOES SPORTS PLAY INTO THAT EFFORT TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT PITTSBURGH, TO GET BUSINESS TO COME TO PITTSBURGH, TOURISM TO COME TO PITTSBURGH, CERTAINLY. SO IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE TOOK THE TIME TO RE-ENGINEER PITTSBURGH, VISIT PITTSBURGH AS AN ORGANIZATION, REALLY ALIGNING IT TO BE STRUCTURED TO WHERE WE’RE TALKING TO CONSUMERS AND EVENT ORGANIZERS THAT HAVE THAT ARE BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE BASED ON THE PURPOSE OF TRAVEL FOR INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO TO PITTSBURGH, THERE’S THREE PRIMARY REASONS WHY INDIVIDUALS COME IN TO PITTSBURGH FOR FOR TOURISM PURPOSES. ONE IS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL. THEY’LL COME IN FOR CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS AND THAT TYPE OF OF OF ACTIVITY, THE SECOND IS FOR LEISURE TOURISM. PEOPLE COMING TO FESTIVALS, CONCERTS, CULTURAL EVENTS AND SO FORTH. AND THEN THE THIRD IS SPORTS AND IT’S SPORTS OF ALL LEVELS, WHETHER THEY’RE COMING IN TO WATCH A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITION, IF THEY’RE COMING IN FOR A FEDERATION SPORTS COMPETITION, SOMETHING THAT IS AN OLYMPIC QUALIFIER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, THEN OF COURSE, NCAA, A AND SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION, THEN THOSE ARE VERY PROMINENT HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUTH SPORTS AND THEN AFFINITY SPORTS LIKE THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES, THE PITTSBURGH MARATHON AND AND OTHER THINGS. SO THERE ARE SO MANY SPORTS EVENTS THAT GO ON IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT’S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ENTIRE MIX. NOW, THE BIG THREE PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THAT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THOSE BIG THREE SPORTS THE PIRATES, THE PENGUINS AND THE STEELERS. ARE THEY KIND OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT SELLING OF SPORTS AND SELLING OF PITTSBURGH? WELL, CERTAINLY FROM A BRAND STANDPOINT, I THINK EVERYBODY IDENTIFIES PITTSBURGH AS THE BLACK AND GOLD CITY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT OUR TEAMS HAVE COME TOGETHER AROUND A COMMON THEME CERTAINLY HELPS, HELPS CREATE A BRAND FOR THE CITY. I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM OF SPORTS, EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT. THOSE THREE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS CERTAINLY HELP BUILD BRAND PITTSBURGH JUST BECAUSE OF THE TELEVISED REACH THAT THEY HAVE. BUT YOUTH SPORTS AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, NCAA, A SPORTS, ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPETITIONS ARE REALLY CRITICAL TO THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SPORTS WITHIN PITTSBURGH. LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER EVENTS. THOSE THOSE MAJOR EVENTS YOU HOST EVERY YEAR. YOU’VE GOT THE MARATHON, OF COURSE, THE VINTAGE GRAND PRIX TEN MILER, THE GREAT RACE. HOW ARE THOSE HELP IN THAT EFFORT TO TO SELL PITTSBURGH AND GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR CITY? THAT’S IMPORTANT. YOU NEED ALL OF THESE VARIOUS COMPONENTS WORKING TOGETHER TO REALLY CREATE THAT OVERARCHING ECONOMIC IMPACT. I THINK P3 ARE, OF COURSE, WHO HOST MANY OF THE THE EVENTS THAT YOU’VE JUST ANNOUNCED DO A GREAT JOB OF ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW EVENTS THAT THEY CAN BRING INTO THE CITY FROM AN ENDURANCE STANDPOINT OF COURSE, THE MARATHON, THE GREAT RACE, AND MANY OTHERS, THEY INTRODUCE THE RUSH TO CRUSH CYCLE RACE LAST YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE A HUGE SUCCESS, AND ANOTHER CORNERSTONE IN THE CALENDAR. BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE LEVELS OF COMPETITION THAT US AS A PROMOTIONAL AGENCY, IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, THAT WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE THINK FAR AHEAD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE’RE REALLY FOCUSED ON NOW IS THE US, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GOING TO HOST THE WORLD CUP RUGBY IN 2030 AND 2031. OUR JOB WITH OUR PARTNERS IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POSITION PITTSBURGH IN A WAY THAT WE CAN HOST EVENTS OF THAT MAGNITUDE. SO THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN REALLY CREATING A REALLY DIVERSE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT FOR SPORTS OF ALL KINDS TO COME IN, WHETHER THEY’RE SMALL YOUTH SPORTS COMPETITIONS, ALL THE WAY UP TO WORLD CUP RUGBY, TYPES OF EVENTS NFL DRAFT, US OPEN, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HERE IN 2025. THERE ARE SUCH A DIVERSITY OF EVENTS THAT WE HOST HERE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON GROWING THAT IN ANY WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN. ON THAT NOTE, THERE’S AN EVENT COMING UP. IT’S A SPORTS CONFERENCE THAT YOU’RE HOSTING, AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE GETTING THE DECISION MAKERS OF SPORTING HERE AS WELL. IS THAT IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE DECIDING, OKAY, WHERE IS MY EVENT GOING TO BE TO BE HERE? THERE IS SO COMING UP IS THE NATIONAL SPORTS FORUM THAT IS THAT’S A CONVENTION THAT’S GOING TO BE HELD HERE IN PITTSBURGH. THAT IS REALLY ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND COLLEGIATE SPORTS IN PARTICULAR. BUT IT’S ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS. LATER ON IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE’LL BE HOLDING ANOTHER CONFERENCE HERE, WHICH IS CALLED THE TEAMS CONFERENCE. THE TEAMS CONFERENCE IS MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU’VE JUST DESCRIBED, WHERE THEY’RE ACTUALLY EVENT OWNERS, SPORTS OWNERS, RIGHTS OWNERS THAT OWN EVENTS THAT CIRCULATE AROUND THE US. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE HERE IN PITTSBURGH SO WE CAN REALLY SHOW OFF EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS ON OFFER. THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HELP BUILD BRAND PITTSBURGH FOR THOSE EVENT OWNERS, AS THEY’RE THINKING ABOUT WHICH CITY THAT THEY’RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR EVENT TO NEXT. STILL AHEAD, WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN, CELEBRATE OUR VENUES, CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY, COMPETE IN SPORTS, WIN THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, OR EVEN THEIR LOCAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND TELL THE WORLD ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED PITTSBURGH. WE’RE HEARING FROM SPORTS PITTSBURGH ABOUT THE EVENTS HOSTED IN OUR CITY THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. WELCOME BACK TO. FOR THE RECORD, WHILE PITTSBURGH’S MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS AND EVENTS GET THE MAJORITY OF THE ATTENTION, THERE ARE DOZENS OF SMALLER EVENTS THAT HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING PITTSBURGH. I SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PITTSBURGH ABOUT THE MAY EVENTS WELCOMED EACH YEAR. WE’RE JOINED NOW BY JENNIFER HAWKINS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PITTSBURGH. JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, ANDREW. I’M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. SO SPORTS PITTSBURGH. WHAT IS IT? SPORTS PITTSBURGH. WE ARE A DIVISION OF VISIT PITTSBURGH WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL TOURISM AGENCY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY. OUR JOB IS SOLELY TO PROMOTE PITTSBURGH AS A VISITOR DESTINATION FOR SPORTS EVENTS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN, CELEBRATE OUR VENUES, CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY, COMPETE IN SPORTS, WIN THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPION OR EVEN THEIR LOCAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND TELL THE WORLD ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED PITTSBURGH. NOW, IS THERE A STRATEGY TO ALL THIS TO BRING IN THESE EVENTS, HOSTING THESE EVENTS? IS THERE A LARGER GOAL HERE? ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE HERE. OUR NUMBER ONE REMIT IS TO DRIVE VISITOR ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGH VISITOR STAYS, BRINGING NEW MONEY INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WE FOCUS ON A GOOD EVENT, WHICH IS ONE AGAIN DRIVES VISITOR ATTENDANCE. PEOPLE COME FROM OUT OF TOWN TO IT PROMOTES PITTSBURGH THROUGH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES, THROUGH SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA, AND THREE ALLOWS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHETHER THAT’S OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN BUCKET LIST EVENTS, ATTEND BUCKET LIST EVENTS. OR IS IT ABOUT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS AND CORPORATIONS BEING ABLE TO TIE THEIR BRAND INTO EVENTS THAT THEY MAY NOT NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO? LET’S GIVE OUR VIEWERS A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE EVENTS YOU’VE HAD IN THE PAST, OR THE BIGGER ONES YOU’VE HAD. THE FROZEN FOUR. ABSOLUTELY. YOU’VE HAD THE NCAA DIVISION ONE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. YES. AND THE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. NOW THESE ARE MAJOR EVENTS. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU PUT THESE ON? HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE THESE HAPPEN? UM, THROUGH A LOT OF GOD’S GRACE. AND THEN ALSO BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. WE HAVE AMAZING PARTNERS WITHIN OUR REGION BETWEEN OUR WHAT YOU NAMED ARE ALL DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUT OUR DIVISION ONE SCHOOLS WE WORK WITH, WE PARTNER WITH EACH UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY AND ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY HAVE ALL BEEN SO GRACIOUS IN WORKING WITH US TO PUT TOGETHER THESE FANTASTIC BIDS AND THEN DOING WHAT PITTSBURGH DOES AND REALLY PUT ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET AND PUTTING ON AN EVENT THAT I THINK EXCEEDS THE NCAA EXPECTATIONS. EVERY TIME YOU APPLIED FOR EVENTS FROM 2026 THROUGH 2028, YES. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT EVENTS YOU’VE APPLIED FOR THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO PITTSBURGH? WE’RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO TRY TO BRING BACK THE EVENTS THAT YOU NAMED. WE WANT TO SEE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS BACK IN PITTSBURGH, MAYBE EVEN AN NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL REGIONAL. UH, WE’D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE WRESTLING AND FROZEN FOUR, FROZEN FOUR WOULD BE BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME. IF WE CAN PULL THAT OFF AND DIVISION ONE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS, I’D BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T ADD THAT WE’RE HOSTING THAT IN MARCH, AND IT WILL BE THE SEVENTH TIME THAT PITTSBURGH HAS HOSTED THAT EVENT. THE SEVENTH AND DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY IS THE HOST. DUQUESNE HAS BEEN THE HOST EACH TIME. YES. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE BACK. WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL, ALONG WITH THE AMERICAN VOLLEYBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION, THEY CO-LOCATE IN DECEMBER OF THE YEAR. SO IT’S A TIME WHEN YOU COULD KIND OF WE HAVE A LOT OF AVAILABLE IN OUR HOTELS AND IN OUR VENUES. SO IT’S AN AMAZING EVENT FOR US TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT TO KEEP THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP BRINGING THOSE D1 EVENTS BACK, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO SHOW, UM, LOVE AND RESPECT TO ALL OF THE NCAA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS. SO WE HAVE PUT THROUGH OR PUT IN A A NUMBER OF EVENTS, A DIVERSE ARRAY OF SPORTS EVENTS IN DIVISION ONE, TWO, THREE AND NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMP AND INVOLVING I THINK WE’RE UP TO TEN HOST INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO THE NCAA. AND WE’LL KNOW IN OCTOBER WHAT WE’LL BE HOSTING IN 2027 THROUGH 28. HOW DO YOU TURN, UH, HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL SPORTING EVENT OR A TOURNAMENT INTO TO AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH? WELL, IN THE FUN WAY, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TOWN, WE’RE FOCUSED ON EVENTS THAT BRING PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN. THEY’RE COMING WITH AND THEY’RE INJECTING NEW MONEY INTO OUR ECONOMY. WHEN THEY ATTEND, THEY’RE SPENDING MONEY AT ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE SUPPORT AND WE CARE ABOUT HERE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, IN OUR REGION. BUT THEY’RE ALSO PAYING INTO THE TAX SYSTEM BETWEEN SALES TAX, FOOD TAX, BEVERAGE TAX, HOTEL TAX. AND THAT HELPS REDUCE THE BURDEN ON OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS IN PAYING FOR OUR CITY SERVICES. AND THEN THEY GO HOME AND RELIEF AND RELIEVE THE RELIEVE BURDEN ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO OUR GOAL IS TO BE SELF FULFILLING, TO HOST THE TYPE OF EVENTS THAT COME IN, HOST THEM SO SUCCESSFULLY THAT THEY WANT TO COME BACK, AND THAT THE ATTENDEES THAT COME IN, THEY’RE TELLING THEIR COACHES, THEY’RE TELLING THEIR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THEY’RE TELLING WHOEVER’S MAKING THE DECISION ON WHERE THE TOURNAMENT GOES OR IF THEY’RE IF THEIR GROUP IS GOING TO BE IN PART OF A TOURNAMENT THAT THEY WANT TO DO IT IN PITTSBURGH BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A GREAT EVENT. AND THEN WE GET TO FOCUS ON BRINGING SOMETHING NEW INTO TOWN TO FILL IN THE GAPS. NOW, IT’S NOT JUST THE ACTUAL SPORTING EVENT. YOU RECENTLY HOSTED THIS PAST WEEK. THE NATIONAL SPORTS FORUM. YES. LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT. WHAT IT IS AND HOW THAT MIGHT HELP PITTSBURGH IN THE FUTURE WITH WITH OTHER EVENTS THAT WE BID FOR. THE CITY WANTS TO HOST CERTAINLY WE JUST ENDED NATIONAL SPORTS FORUM. IT’S BEEN A GREAT WEEK OF US CELEBRATING THE BUSINESS SIDE OF SPORTS. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT HOSTED APPROXIMATELY OR JUST UNDER A THOUSAND ATTENDEES THAT REALLY COME FROM PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE TEAMS ON THE REVENUE DRIVING SIDE. SO TICKET SALES, SPONSORSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND NEW EVENT REVENUE THAT’S USUALLY TIED IN WITH THOSE TEAMS. BUT IT ALSO BRINGS IN SPONSOR PROPERTIES. SO WE SAW A REPRESENTATION FROM ANHEUSER-BUSCH FROM, UM, VERIZON AND OTHER GROUPS AND THEN ALSO SUPPORTING SUPPLIERS THAT PROVIDE ALL OF THE APPS AND THE PRODUCTS THAT THAT THE TEAMS USE TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. SO THEY WERE HERE FOR TWO AND A HALF DAYS. THEY SAW SO MUCH OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. UH, WE GOT TO CELEBRATE AT BOTH THE PPG PAINTS ARENA AT PNC PARK AND AT ACRISURE STADIUM. AND THAT’S AN OPPORTUNITY HOW IT GIVES BACK TO US IS THEY GO OUT AND TELL THEIR FRIENDS, THEY GO OUT AND TELL THEIR BUSINESS PARTNERS ALL THEY HAVE SOME PART MAKING DECISIONS ON IF EVENTS COME TO PITTSBURGH. AND SO WE WANT TO SHOWCASE IT EVERY CHANCE WE GET TO TALK ABOUT PITTSBURGH AS A SPORTS DESTINATION. YOU ARE WATCHING, FOR THE RECORD, WE’RE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS. WHILE PITTSBURGH AWAITS WORD ON WHETHER IT WILL HOST THE NFL DRAFT IN EITHER 2026 OR 27. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR NATIONAL EVENTS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE AT HOME OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS. IN MARCH, PITTSBURGH WILL ONCE AGAIN PLAY HOST TO THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS OF THE NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY IS THE HOST SCHOOL, AND JUNE 12TH TO THE 16TH OF 2025. OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB WILL ONCE AGAIN BE THE SITE OF GOLF’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THE UNITED STATES OPEN. IF YOU HAVE A TOPIC YOU WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS, SEND US AN EMAIL TO NEWS AT WTAE DOT COM. YOU CAN ALSO REWATCH THIS EPISODE OR ANY EPISODE WITH A VERY LOCAL APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET OR SMART TV. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.