Draft festivities will be held at the Rock & Roll HOF, FirstEnergy Stadium and other iconic locationsGETTY IMAGES
The city of Cleveland was awarded the '21 NFL Draft, the league's "biggest offseason event," which will bring fans downtown over three days in April for "free celebrations at iconic locations" such as FirstEnergy Stadium, the Rock & Roll HOF and the shores of Lake Erie, according to a front-page piece by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The '21 Draft also "coincides with the Browns' 75th anniversary celebration." The original proposal for hosting the event included the Pro Football HOF and the city of Canton, but the current bid was "streamlined to just Cleveland" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/23). In Cleveland, Marc Bona notes the Pro Football HOF "expects to continue its involvement" with the Draft. HOF Chief of Staff and VP/Communications Pete Fierle "could not offer details on specific programs" the organization would "promote in conjunction" with the Draft. But he said something would "certainly" be coming in the future (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/23).
CELEBRATION TIME: The NFL awarded K.C. the '23 NFL Draft, and in K.C., Blair Kerkhoff in a front-page piece writes the event has "recently swelled into a full-blown festival." The NFL "estimated that some 600,000 fans attended" this past month's Draft in Nashville. After "coming away empty in a previous bid attempt," K.C. landed the event that has "grown remarkably over the past few years." Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial "will provide the setting" in K.C. for the Draft (K.C. STAR, 5/23). Jolie Justus, a '19 K.C. mayoral candidate, said that she believed hosting the Draft "would make the city more marketable as it competes for other sporting events," including the NCAA Final Four and the FIFA World Cup (K.C. STAR, 5/23).
STILL TO COME: ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reported the NFL was "not ready to move on bids" for the '22 Draft, as there are "about 20 cities interested in hosting that year." The league will "make an announcement about the location at a later date." The '20 Draft was "previously awarded to Las Vegas, in conjunction with the relocation" of the Raiders (ESPN.com, 5/22). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said there was no announcement for the '22 Draft because the NFL "wants to go a little city, big city and alternate." The league is "saving a spot for a bigger city" for that year, possibly Boston, DC or Houston ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 5/22). Meanwhile, in Green Bay, Richard Ryman reports the Packers "notified the NFL they are interested in hosting the draft, but have not submitted a formal bid." The Packers "could bid" on '22 or shoot for '24 or beyond. A decision on whether to bid on '22 is "expected soon." The Packers said that a "new expo hall and more-developed Titletown District are key components to hosting the draft" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 5/23).
