The NFL takes tailgating to a whole new level this week with NFL Kickoff, a three-day fan-oriented extravaganza leading up to Thursday night's season-opening game between the Tennessee Titans and the world-champion Steelers.

Events planned for Point State Park range from youth activities and contests to a full-blown concert featuring Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas.

And, like most Downtown fun, it will impact traffic and parking.

Here's what you need to know:

The NFL Play 60 Youth Football Festival literally kicks things off this morning when hundreds of Pittsburgh-area schoolchildren from fourth, fifth and sixth grades will swarm into the Point for youth clinics coached, in part, by Brashear High School football players and members of the Independent Women's Football League Pittsburgh Passion. Youngsters will get to run around on the grass while learning football skills as well as lessons on fitness and health.

They also will be able to see and try the latest Madden NFL game from EA Sports.

State Secretary of Health Everette James and state Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak will be dropping by with former NFL players, including Steelers players Rocky Bleier, Tunch Ilkin and Louis Lipps, among others.

Youngsters also can sign up for a chance to take an NFL player to school with them and plan a gym class with the player.

Most of the kiosks at the Kickoff have corporate sponsors who are offering light-hearted ways to promote their products. Sprint, for example, is offering "Phone-A-Friend," giving fans a chance to have a former Steelers player call a friend or family member for a surprise conversation. And older fans will be able to stop by the Coors Light Cold Zone and record their own version of a Coors Light "Coaches" TV commercial.

Hours for activities are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today and tomorrow and noon to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, closing just in time for the coin-toss across the river.

Concert-goers will be admitted to the seating area beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday. Fans will be permitted to bring backpacks and packages, but all will be subject to inspection at security checkpoints.

The list of prohibited items includes weapons, alcohol, glass containers, fireworks, chairs and tents, grills, umbrellas, pets, blankets, food and beverages.

Now, for the traffic and street closing info:

Stanwix Street, from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Liberty Avenue, will be closed due to construction, as is Penn Avenue from Stanwix Street to Sixth Street.

Commonwealth Place, from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Liberty Avenue, will be closed from 10 a.m. Thursday until midnight Friday.

Commonwealth Place from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Fort Pitt Boulevard will be a no-parking zone through Friday.

Fans parking at Heinz Field before the game will need to cross the Roberto Clemente Bridge at Sixth Street for access to Point State Park for the concert. The Fort Duquesne Bridge walkway will be closed until after the concert.