NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that "more than 200,000 people" attended the first night of the NFL Draft last night in Nashville. Organizers said that they "expected 300,000 people to attend over three days" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/26). The "densely packed crowd reached four blocks up Nashvillle's honky-tonk row ... with stragglers probably all the way back" to Bridgestone Arena (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/26). Rain was in the area for part of the evening, but ESPN's Trey Wingo noted it seemed to have "not bothered anybody," as nobody "ever left" ("NFL Draft," ESPN, 4/25).
USA TODAY lists the city of Nashville as one of its "winners" for the opening night of the Draft, as the NFL "transformed Music City's downtown into a football party" (USATODAY.com, 4/26). ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted recent drafts in N.Y., Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas "were tremendous," and the cities were "great hosts." But there has "never been a scene like this for any draft in any sport, ever" (TWITTER.com, 4/25). ESPN's Lee Corso, who appeared on "College Gameday" as part of the Draft coverage, said that there is "no way" Las Vegas will be able to compare to Nashville when it hosts next year (TENNESSEAN.com, 4/25).
This morning's edition of NBC's "Today" had a report dubbed "NFL's Big Night," on the Draft about 15 minutes into the show. NBC's Stephanie Gosk said the Draft has "become a Super Bowl-level event." NBC's Craig Melvin also noted the NFL has "so many events surrounding it that's it's next-level now" ("Today," NBC, 4/26). ABC's "GMA" ran a report under the header "Football's Big Night." ABC's Paula Faris said there is "nothing quite like" the Draft ("GMA," ABC, 4/26). "CBS This Morning" ran a report on the Draft about 20 minutes into its broadcast (THE DAILY).
