Players and their families will be ferried by boat to and from the red carpet stage NFL
The NFL Draft is "expected to be one of the biggest events in Las Vegas history" this spring, as the NFL and local officials yesterday "laid out plans for the three-day event scheduled for April 23-25," according to a front-page piece by Mick Akers of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. NFL VP/Event Operations & Production Jon Barker said that the red carpet stage will be constructed over the fountains at the Bellagio, with players and their families "ferried by boat to and from the stage." Akers notes the Draft’s main stage and the Draft Experience -- a free, three-day football festival -- will be "outside the Caesars Forum." The Bellagio stage will "serve as a red carpet introduction to the draft prospects, who will then be transported down Flamingo Road to the Draft Experience via open-air vehicles." The Draft Experience will "feature football-themed games and activities aimed at youth and will showcase the Raiders’ Vince Lombardi trophies from their three Super Bowl wins." The Raiders also will be "routinely featured during the three-day draft." Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill said that the Draft will "serve as a precursor to hosting other large-scale events in Las Vegas as Allegiant Stadium comes on board" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/22). The NFL said that the three-day celebration will "include immersive activities, live entertainment and performances." In Las Vegas, Kelcie Grega notes all events are "free and open to the public." Officials said that the main stage also will "host daily performances by headlining acts throughout the draft" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/22).
TIME TO SHINE: In Las Vegas, Ed Graney writes the buzz surrounding the Draft is "sure to equal or surpass any such event" over Las Vegas' history. The scene in Philadelphia three years ago was "as wild and crazy as any previous draft," while last year's event in Nashville drew an estimated 600,000 fans. Graney: "Las Vegas has a chance to eclipse it all." The Draft will be a "logistical nightmare," but if there is a town that can "handle potential transit chaos," it is Las Vegas. The city is "actually great at it and, with the potential of a Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on the horizon, needs to be even better." The benefits of hosting a Draft, of "drawing thousands and thousands of tourists and integrating them into the community, can’t be overstated" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/22). In Las Vegas, Alan Snel wrote, "You can go way over the top in Las Vegas. ... And that's ideal for the NFL" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 1/21). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt said the NFL "isn't moving the Raiders to town and the Draft" to Las Vegas to "celebrate their arrival to do it small." They "want to outdo the last party" in Nashville. The entire town is "engineered to be make believe (and) things are made to appear to be something more than they actually are." Van Pelt: "Whoever gets the Draft after this, well good luck to you because there’s not going to be any outdoing this" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 1/22).
DIVING IN: ESPN's Trey Wingo asked, "Is somebody actually going to take the tumble and fall into the fountain? That’s got to be the ultimate prop bet for the Draft this year.” ESPN’s Mike Golic said of the NFL embracing Las Vegas: “Isn’t it amazing, because we remember it like yesterday, when Tony Romo was playing and the NFL stopped him from doing a fantasy draft, not even in a casino but by a casino, because it was in Las Vegas” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 1/22).
