NFL Draft sparks mixed reactions by Valley residents

Many Mon Valley folks say they will be steering clear of Pittsburgh during the NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is finally here, but many Mon Valley residents are split on what their plans are to participate in the huge event.

From die-hard fans mapping out travel plans to others opting to stay home, the NFL Draft is drawing a wide range of reactions across the Valley and beyond.

The massive event is expected to draw upward 500,000 people over three days. Pittsburgh’s Point State Park has been preparing for the event for the past few weeks, along with businesses around the Valley, and there are several activities at the Point and the North Shore.

Starting today, visitors will be met with a giant bright blue entrance gate that reads “NFL Draft Experience.” The 12,000-square-foot interactive space at the park will be free to attend, with items for sale at concessions and merchandise areas.

Lynn Grimes of Aunt Carols Dip in Rostraver Township said they will be at the kickoff to the NFL draft at Nova Place in downtown Pittsburgh. They will have a football season dip package with an “Aunt Carol Towel.”

Several Mon Valley businesses are also having specials for Draft Week, including the Carriage Inn in Elizabeth Township and Foster House II in Belle Vernon, as they will be offering giveaways, prizes to win, beer and food specials and more. All will be posted on their Facebook pages and websites.

Many Valley folks say, ‘no way’

The Mon Valley Independent took to social media Wednesday to see how Valley residents feel about the NFL draft. Many residents said, no thanks.

Former Elizabeth Forward school district principal Mike Routh now works as a part-time gallery attendant at the Andy Warhol Museum. He said there is “no way” he is attempting to travel to the North Shore this week in light of the numerous road closures.

“On a normal day, traversing Route 51 in that direction is a challenge,” Routh said. “Gridlock permeates the entire region on a normal day. Add some 500,000 out-of-towners unfamiliar with driving in the ‘Burgh… not a chance. Who needs the extra stress?”

Sherri Gibino of Donora is also concerned about the increase in traffic.

Karen Legerski of McKeesport, Jane Francis of Belle Vernon, Brett Catterall of Pittsburgh and many others said they are avoiding the Draft all together, and that there are better things to focus on.

Jeff Hickman and Jim Underwood of Belle Vernon both said they are avoiding the downtown area, and they have “zero interest” in the Draft festivities.

“I could care less,” Charles Stefanick of Dunbar Township said. “The teams and players make millions, but come to the tax payer to pay for the stadiums all that is connected. Most sports are the same way.”

Jessica Amber of Liberty Borough said she was planning on going down for her husband’s birthday, but as more information came out about the draft, combined with the lack of parking, she is afraid of some of the possible safety issues and how crowded the city will get.

Dave Finfrock of Uniontown said he thinks the Draft is “a joke,” and said he thinks there’s going to be a lot of trouble and chaos in downtown Pittsburgh. Carl Schunk of Elizabeth is also avoiding downtown.

“I’m trying to not even go near Allegheny County Airport the rest of the week,” said Nickia Pranevich of Waynesburg. “I despise everything about this draft, and the fact that they can’t fix our roads or our bridges on a regular basis, but they can all of a sudden fix it for the Draft.

“The money that they’re putting into Pittsburgh right now should have been put into the city a long time ago,” she added. “Everything about this draft has irritated me since the first day I heard about it.”

Mixed feelings

While many residents are adamant they won’t be participating, others have mixed feelings.

Renee Russo-Bruno of White Oak said she is excited for the draft, and hopes the City of Pittsburgh does a good job with the event. However, she said she is avoiding it “like the plague.”

So is Cindy Thompson of Fellsburg.

“We are avoiding the draft downtown,” Thompson said. “We’ll find out about Steeler picks from the local news at home where we have no lines and a clean bathroom. We want to visit Arts Landing after the hoopla, and are pleased that they used the draft as an excuse to fix the fountain at the Point.”

Roxanne Bell Levandosky of Charleroi said she is attending the Draft to take her kids, but she is not excited whatsoever. Patty Kozon of Monongahela thought the opposite, saying she is not going but it would be exciting to go to the event.

Gina Pero of Elizabeth is also looking forward to the draft since it is a cool event for the area, but she is going to avoid Pittsburgh “at all costs for the next week.”

Francine Brady of Monongahela, who works downtown part time, said she could not care less about the Draft, but she saw all the events that are happening, so she plans on attending the festivities.

“It will be very crowded and busy so I’ll be home. But I’m so glad others will come into our city and see how beautiful it is,” said Dian Stevens-Smith of Jefferson Hills. “The rivers, the views and the buildings. I hope (visitors) have the opportunity to see all the different cultures we are made up of and their delicious foods and how we respect one another,” she added. “I hope they see kindness and feel welcomed. I hope they want to come back to visit.”

Dave Wadsworth of North Belle Vernon said he is going to the draft with his grandson, but is not looking forward to the traffic, parking and navigating crowds. For some like Michelle Severa of Rostraver, the Draft preparation has been “absolutely fantastic” for improving the city and its infrastructure, and it will be amazing for local businesses.

However, she said Pittsburgh is “a really unique little city,” along with Western Pennsylvania as a whole, and the “interesting culture” will make for an interesting Draft experience.

“As a resident of the Mon Valley, I won’t be caught dead in the city this weekend,” Severa said. “The Draft is going to overwhelm our area with people that don’t understand how to navigate the city, and that don’t understand the culture surrounding the city of bridges. I love this area so deeply, but you will find me hiking the Laurel Highlands and spending time with my horses where it is much, much quieter.”

Dan Brian of Buena Vista said the event will be a historic event for the city, but does not plan on going anywhere near downtown because of the traffic and road closures.

“I’ll watch on TV as I don’t care to get caught up in all the traffic,” Andrea Parasolick of Rostraver Township said. “The NFL draft is good for positive news about Pittsburgh and our Mon Valley. It will bring in much needed revenue. I prefer quietness and watching from my living room. Now the Steelers games are a different story.”

A favorable weekend

While there are many Mon Valley residents that are very much against the event, there are some that are going to attend the festivities this weekend.

Theresa Gouker of North Huntingdon said she is going to the events today with three other friends, and is going out to lunch, riding the Gateway Clipper Express boat and more.

“I am super excited about the draft,” Gouker said. “We have a beautiful city and I love that we get to celebrate it ! I am definitely a football girl so I cannot wait to be in the middle of all of the fun.”

According to Tammy Indorante of Charleroi, she is excited for the Draft events she is going to, and like other Mon Valley residents like Lisa Baker Altemare, this Draft is a once in a lifetime opportunity for people to attend.

McKeesport Housing Authority Executive Director/ CEO Diane Raible and Danielle Yerkey of Charleroi both are going into the city to run the Picksburgh Draft Day 5K on Saturday, where they will run or walk through the city, crossing bridges set against the Pittsburgh skyline.

“The Steelers have won six Super Bowl championships, it’s only fair that we finally are able to financially profit in our area from the sport,” said Rebecca L. Simpson of Pittsburgh. “We never have been able to host a Super Bowl because of our cold weather and no inside stadium. This makes up for that somewhat. Pittsburgh is such a beautiful city I am glad we can finally show it off.”

Denise Ponist Tovlin of Duquesne has a friend coming into town for the event, and they are both so excited to be there – also stating that its a once in a lifetime experience, even if its going to be crazy.

According to Anita Looper Carson of Belle Vernon, it’s an exciting time for the area since there are a lot of free activities, there is a chance to see celebrities and they get to eat good food.

Some residents like Kim Lewis Smith of the Elizabeth Forward area are taking other public transportation down to Pittsburgh, and said the event will be a good time.

“I hope it works out for the city, it’s always nice to see and hear about people coming to visit us and spending their money here,” Smith said. “When we travel, I always appreciate being treated well by the locals, and I hope we return the favor to anyone coming to visit our beautiful city.”