Who’s Feeding the NFL Draft Prospects Before the Big Pick?

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARAMARK

Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the food and beverage provider at Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena, is cooking up a feast for top rookie prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That’s if all the butterflies in their bellies leave enough room for food.

As the athletes pace in the Green Room at Acrisure, they can choose from an array of comfort and elevated options, from smash burger sliders and truffle mac & cheese to herb‑grilled chicken and fresh vegetables

Of course, pierogies, a yinzer favorite, will be on the menu.

“Once Pittsburgh was announced as the host city, our culinary, logistics and operations teams started planning,” District Manager Brian Hediger says. “An event of this scale requires close coordination with the NFL and our culinary teams to make sure every detail reflects both the significance of the moment and the spirit of Pittsburgh. The menu was built with the moment in mind, anticipating what would feel most approachable and easy to enjoy, and helping to remove one more decision from an already high‑pressure evening.”

In addition to feeding footballers, Aramark is making meals for hundreds of thousands of fans who can enjoy yinzer-inspired items, including the Steel City Dog, Kielbasa Cheesesteaks, Strip District Pepperoni Rolls and the Immaculate Refreshment made with Crush Orange, Absolut Mandrin Vodka and Triple Sec topped with Starry and served in a souvenir cup.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARAMARK

What happens to the leftovers?

Through the NFL’s partnership with 412 Food Rescue —a longtime partner during both NFL and MLB games in Pittsburgh – any eligible leftovers will be safely frozen and donated on Monday to help support local community members in need.

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, the nonprofit organization will host Fourth & Feast: From the Field to the Table, a special family-style, zero-waste meal created with rescued food. Held at the Good Food Project in Millvale’s Food and Energy Hub, the invitation-only event will feature a fireside chat emcee’d by Natalie Bencivenga, a representative of VisitPittsburgh and Lilith owner and chef Jamilka Borges.

412 Food Rescue has been transforming surplus food into abundance since its founding in 2015. Now the largest volunteer food rescue organization in the country, with a growing community of more than 26,000 volunteers, it has diverted over 39 million pounds of food bound for the waste stream in Western Pennsylvania — the equivalent of more than 33 million meals — mitigating over 83 million pounds of CO2 emissions in the process.

“As a homegrown organization powered by volunteers and partners across Pittsburgh, we’re deeply proud of our community,” 412 Food Rescue CEO Alyssa Cholodofsky says. “We’re ready to undertake this major food recovery project with them and excited to celebrate together afterward.”