Homeowners list properties for thousands to rent ahead of NFL draft
By Yazmin Rodriguez
Click here for updates on this story
PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — As Pittsburgh gears up for the NFL draft, local homeowners are listing their properties for thousands of dollars a night to accommodate the influx of visitors.
Richard Ryan, a Pittsburgh resident, has listed his Northside rental property for $5,000 a night, inspired by a report of someone earning $20,000 for a week in Shadyside.
“Honestly, I saw an article someone getting $20,000 for the week in Shadyside, and I figured if I’m way closer and I have a full house, three beds, I figured I could compete with that rate,” Ryan said.
Ryan noted the increased demand for accommodations due to the influx of visitors for the NFL draft.
“I’ve been hearing all over the news that there are a ton of people coming into town and there’s a lot of people looking for accommodations, so I figured with the proximity to the North Shore and all the festivities, I thought it was kind of a no-brainer,” he said.
Another property, which sleeps 14, is listed for $33,000 for three nights.
“Being that it sleeps 14, we thought that the price was actually pretty good. Everyone we talked to said, you know, if you were to get eight hotel rooms, it would be more,” said Kristin Barker, whose Northside home is listed
Accommodations For the Draft is a website launched in October, and it lists rental homes in and around Pittsburgh.
“Northside, Southside, Mt. Washington, Lawrenceville, those are the most popular,” said Sandy Worncheck, a local realtor who started the website after seeing the success of homeowners during the U.S. Open in Oakmont last summer.
“Somebody listed their house in Latrobe because they are advertising it as, ‘Do you wanna stay where the Steelers practice?'” Worncheck said.
Worncheck emphasized the opportunity for homeowners to list their properties for the NFL draft, saying, “Everybody told me you have to do this for the NFL.
“Despite it being 45 days out from the draft, Worncheck said it’s not too late to list a home.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.