The NFL is touting next week’s Draft in Philadelphia as the league’s largest-ever interactive football festival, with sponsor activation from at least 15 brands. More than 168,000 fans have signed up so far for the NFL Draft Experience through the Fan Mobile Pass. The events are free. The Draft Experience is presented by Oikos Triple Zero, which will have a 100-yard zip line as part of its activation in the Draft area, which is the equivalent of 25 football fields. The space encompasses the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Other brands activating include Hyundai, Aquafina, Budweiser, Bridgestone, Campbell’s Soup, Courtyard by Marriott, FedEx, Visa, Panini America, Skittles, SiriusXM, Tostitos, Danimals and Xfinity. As in past years, later rounds will occur at team locations. This year, players selected in Rounds 4-5 on April 29 will be announced at team locations around the country. There will still be a Draft stage setup for fans in Philadephia on Saturday. For Rounds 2-3 on April 30, 32 former players -- along with past recipients and team winners of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award -- will announce selections for Rounds 2-3 in Philadelphia (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS: In Philadelphia, Mari Schaefer noted early projections "call for some precipitation that weekend." But NFL Senior VP/Events Peter O'Reilly said, "It's a rain or shine event." The '17 Draft will be the "first held entirely outdoors, taking place in a 3,000-seat theater constructed outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art." Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management Dir Dan Bradley said, "Our intent is not to disrupt the event for a minor weather issue." O'Reilly said that precipitation "did not deter fans" at the '16 Draft in Chicago, where it "poured on the third day of the event" (PHILLY.com, 4/14).
WORTH THE EFFORT? In Philadelphia, Greg Argos wrote some people wonder if major events like the NFL Draft "actually help out the city’s economy." Argos: "That’s the question many are wondering as we’re less than one week away from the NFL Draft." But Independence Visitor Center President & CEO James Cuorato said, "The exposure we will get really all over North America is just amazing. You almost can’t put a price tag on that." City officials "estimate hosting the NFL Draft will cost" $25M. The city will "pay $500,000 and the rest will be split between the NFL and private donors" (PHILADELPHIA.CBSLOCAL.com, 4/18).
