NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday said that it is "'very likely' the draft will move on" from Chicago after this year, according to Chris De Luca of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. The draft moved out of N.Y. after the '14 event and "exceeded expectations last year in Chicago." The NFL estimates close to 200,000 fans "attended the downtown weekend draft event last year." The NFL this year "is expecting 300,000 during the three-day draft, which starts Thursday night." A site for the '17 draft "will likely be announced in July." If the NFL begins rotating the draft, Chicago "wants to be included." Canton, Ohio, -- home of the Pro Football HOF -- and Denver "are among the cities who have publicly expressed interest." A draft in L.A. also "seems inevitable, though the league could wait" until the Rams' new stadium complex opens in '19 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/23).
COME BACK FOR MORE: In Chicago, Fran Spielman notes Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is holding out hope of "persuading Goodell to return for a third-straight year." Emanuel: "Prior to 2015, the NFL didn’t realize what the draft could be. They came to ... Chicago, and brought their fan base from the greater Midwest, which is their most dedicated fan base." He added, "When they analyze it and look at it, they’ll realize that Chicago is a great city. But, the good thing is, we’re not a one-sport town. We now have the NHL Draft, which will be the 100-year anniversary of the NHL. The draft by the NHL was never held in the city of Chicago. And they will be here because they saw what the city could do on the NFL side" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/26).
