NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announce on Tuesday afternoon that the city of Chicago will host the 2016 NFL Draft.
Advertisement
It was the first time since 1964 that Chicago had hosted the draft, which is now a three-day event that last year ran from Thursday-Saturday from April 30 to May 2.
It’s official: the NFL Draft, which drew 200,000 football fans to Grant Park this spring, will return to Chicago next year. There was no commitment made to Chicago beyond 2016, but the NFL says it will be considered for future drafts.
“We’re still determining”, NFL Vice President Peter O’Reilly said. Despite cold weather, the Chicago location afforded the league an additional outdoor setting, Draft Town, for fans to hang out at.
Initially there was some thought that the NFL would look to keep the event moving from year-to-year to allow new cities and new pockets of home-town fans to be a part of the festivities.
Appearing with Goodell, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said there are “ideas on how to make it even a bigger event (next year)”.
Chicago will once again host the NFL Draft, reported by the Chicago Tribune and multiple reports. The St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders all gave presentations.
The league also announced plans to create a selection process for future draft sites.
The 2015 draft was a resounding success in Chicago.
Advertisement
At some point, I would like to see all 32 NFL cities get a shot at hosting the draft as much like the Super Bowl, the economic impact would be great.
