Parking will be at a premium near the NFL draft next week, and even unlikely players like animal shelters, public schools and private residents are hoping to cash in.

Why it matters: City leaders are urging people to ditch driving and opt for public transit to avoid headaches, but plenty of fans are reserving parking in advance.

• Limited space and higher prices are driving up competition and creativity.

Case in point: Pittsburgh Public Schools is leasing parking lots at its North Side schools after shifting all students to remote learning during the draft due to road closures and congestion.

• Spots at Pittsburgh Allegheny, King, and Conroy, for example, are $169 per day through the ParkWiz advance booking partner.
• Lease revenue will boost the district's general fund and draw value from parking that visitors would likely otherwise use for free, the district said.
• Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh is also leasing parking spots for $150 per day at its North Side shelter, just blocks from Acrisure Stadium, to support its nonprofit operations.
• Even residents farther out are joining the frenzy. Troy Hill native Mark Hanley tells Axios he'll be offering his garage for $75 a day to lure last-minute parkers via Facebook. "Why let all the big garage owners make a buck?" he says.

The big picture: Hundreds of parking spots near Acrisure are still available via JustPark, which partnered with ALCO Parking and other providers to bring more spaces online in one place.

• Prices range from $87.25 to $173.50 per day.

Stunning stat: Rivers Casino is selling a four-day NFL draft parking package for $500 plus taxes and fees when booked in advance. Day-of parking will be $250 per day plus taxes and fees.

The bottom line: If you must drive, Visit Pittsburgh recommends parking in more affordable city-owned lots and garages Downtown or in Station Square and taking free light rail or Gateway Clipper rides to draft activities.

• Book ahead when possible using apps like ParkWhiz and track real-time parking availability via the ParkPGH app.

Go deeper

The Battle of Pennsylvania starts tomorrow.

Why it matters: The Pens and Flyers are reigniting their bitter rivalry in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Pittsburghers won't have to contend with NFL draft traffic to enjoy.

Driving the news: The NHL announced the Stanley Cup playoff schedule early this morning.

• Game 1: Flyers at Pens, tomorrow at 8pm.
• Game 2: Flyers at Pens, Monday, April 20 at 7pm.
• Game 3: Pens at Flyers, Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm.
• Game 4: Pens at Flyers, Saturday, April 25 at 8pm.
• Game 5, if necessary: Flyers at Pens, April 27, time TBD.
• Game 6, if necessary: Pens at Flyers, April 29, time TBD.
• Game 7, if necessary: Flyers at Pens, May 2, time TBD.

Between the lines: Penguins have home-ice advantage at PPG Paints Arena in the best-of-seven series.

• There aren't any Pens home games during the NFL draft on April 23-25.

How to watch: ESPN will televise games 1 and 2, TBS/TruTV will televise games 3 and 4. Stream on HBO Max and ESPN+.

Purchase Pens tickets here and Flyers tickets here.

What's at stake

🍓 A giant strawberry Pop-Tarts mascot will sacrifice itself on April 24 in a public event on the North Side as part of NFL draft celebrations.

• It's the first time the public gets to participate in the viral college football ritual. (Axios)

🎬 The Pittsburgh Film Office wants to rebrand PIT's former landside terminal as "Terminal P," a filming location to lure Hollywood talent. The facility closed last year with the opening of PIT's new $1.7 billion terminal. (Post-Gazette)

🥃 A new Black-owned tasting lounge, Black Brewhouse, will open April 22 at 339 Forbes Ave. in Downtown, with beer, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic options, and rotating food trucks. (Pittsburgh Magazine)

"A jury has agreed with our position that these two mega companies have essentially had a stranglehold on a multi-billion-dollar industry that limited Pennsylvanians' options for enjoying their favorite artists."

Context: A New York jury on Wednesday found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated U.S. and state antitrust laws — just weeks after the Trump administration settled its case with fewer concessions.

Why it matters: Republican AG Dave Sunday was among a coalition of state leaders who took the case to trial despite the U.S. Department of Justice settlement, arguing it shortchanged consumers.

• The verdict will likely embolden state attorneys general to prosecute other antitrust cases, Axios' Dan Primack and Ashley Gold report.

The other side: "The jury's verdict is not the last word on this matter," Live Nation said in a statement.

What we're watching: The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars, and even require Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster.

Hang your feeders and stir up some homemade nectar — hummingbirds are back.

The big picture: Ruby-throated hummingbirds are already popping up around Pittsburgh, with more on the way as warmer spring weather accelerates their migration from Central America and Mexico.

Fun fact: The tiny pollinators are the only hummingbirds that breed east of the Mississippi River.

Zoom in: To create a hummingbird-friendly space in your backyard, the National Audubon Society recommends:

• Dimming outdoor lights.
• Setting up a mister or drip fountain — hummingbirds bathe often.
• Growing native, nectar-rich plants like bee balm and jewelweed. A nectar feeder can help birds find you even faster, but there's no need to use red-dyed nectar.
• Maintaining a healthy garden rich with insects for protein.

The bottom line: Track hummingbird sightings here!

PPG Paints Arena is premiering the Pens Aquarium Cocktail for the playoffs, a nod to the "boy aquarium" trend related to HBO's "Heated Rivalry."

Bottoms up: Served in a plastic fish bowl, the drink is made with vodka, blue curaçao, Sprite, mango boba, and a Swedish Fish.

• It costs $28.

Fun fact: "Heated Rivalry" is partially inspired by Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, so you can enjoy a vaguely Crosby-related cocktail while watching him play.

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