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Report: 2021 NFL Draft awarded to Cleveland

The 2021 NFL Draft will be held in Cleveland, according to an Uproxx report on Tuesday.

The league is expected to officially announce the news, and potentially the hosts of other future drafts, on Wednesday, as owners hold spring meetings in Florida this week.

Cleveland, Kansas City and Denver were among the finalists for recent drafts that were awarded to Nashville (2019) and Las Vegas (2020). Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that Denver is not expected to be awarded a future draft this week.

“We’re confident in our city and our proposal, and feel Cleveland has a great chance at securing this event,” David Gilbert, president of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, told Cleveland.com in a statement earlier Tuesday.

The draft began moving around the country in 2015, being held in Chicago for two years before going to Philadelphia (2017), Dallas (2018) and then Nashville last month. Before that, the draft was held annually in New York City from 1965-2014.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-footb...d-idUSKCN1SR2IP

Good stuff for the City of Cleveland.

Anyone have opinions if they should actually host it at the Hall of Fame in Canton?

I think the proposal for the 2020 draft included Canton because of the 100-year anniversary of the NFL and the Cleveland Sports Commission thought it would be a good strategy to include Canton as a site. I'm guessing Cleveland thought it would be easier to do it on their own and submit as one city. If people really want to go to Canton if they visit Cleveland for the draft, it isn't a hard thing to do.

Side note: And I hate to say it, but the NFL HOF is one of the most overrated experiences ever.

excellent news! let's hope we have pick 32

And several AFC Championship games....

Good news to start a great day! This surprised me. Hope we are picking last.

Hopefully! That aside, The Cleveland Sports Commission has done an amazing job these last handful of years securing events the help the city economically. It really has been a well-run machine over there. And the city has proven it can manage/coordinate these types of big events in the past, which helps too.

Cool.

Awesome

pretty sweet lineup of events the next few years

I am going to have to figure out a way to go.

Now those would be worth attending.

Kick ass Cleveland!!!!!

You can count on the rock and roll hall of fame to be a big part IMO

Browns and Cleveland to host the 2021 NFL Draft: ‘It’s a big, big deal to our area,’ says Jimmy Haslam
Updated May 22, 5:45 PM; Posted May 22, 3:49 PM
The NFL draft will take place in Cleveland in 2021.
AP

The NFL draft will take place in Cleveland in 2021.

186
6.3k shares
By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns are aiming for the Super Bowl, but for now, they’ve landed the offseason one.

The 2021 NFL Draft is coming to The Land.

Through a combined effort of the Browns and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, the city of Cleveland was awarded the league’s biggest offseason event, the league announced Wednesday. Kansas City will host the 2023 draft.

Cleveland’s selection was approved at the NFL Spring Meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla., with Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam on hand for the announcement.



The three days of the draft in April will bring fans downtown for free celebrations at iconic locations such as FirstEnergy Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the shores of Lake Erie.


"Dee (Haslam) I and (Executive Vice President JW Johnson) want to thank our fellow owners and the NFL for having confidence in our organization, the city of Cleveland,'' Jimmy Haslam said at the press conference. "It’s a big, big deal to our area, one of the founding areas of the NFL and we look forward to hosting the draft.

"The NFL went on the road several years ago and the drafts have been held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and Nashville have been tremendously successful and we look forward to following in their footsteps.”

The Browns, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, City of Cleveland and Destination Cleveland will host a press conference at 3 p.m. in Public Square Thursday, including a free fan tailgate. Browns general manager John Dorsey, Johnson, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and former Browns Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs will attend, as well as Mayor Frank Jackson.

“We are incredibly honored to be able to showcase the City of Cleveland and the passion of Browns fans through the unique international platform the NFL Draft provides,'' Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a release. "This is an exceptional opportunity for Northeast Ohio that even extends beyond football, and we look forward to continuing the work ahead with Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, the City of Cleveland, Destination Cleveland and the NFL to ensure that the 2021 NFL Draft is truly memorable for Northeast Ohio and football fans across the world.”


Fortunately, not everything that happens in Vegas, where the 2020 draft will be held, stays in Vegas.

“Cleveland has a passionate fan base and the city offers distinctive iconic locations and attractions that will bring the NFL Draft experience to fans in unique and exciting ways,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the release.

The 2021 draft also coincides with the Browns’ 75th anniversary celebration.

“The City of Cleveland welcomes the 2021 National Football League Draft,” Jackson said. “Visitors will find Cleveland has an unmatched ability to provide Midwestern warmth and hospitality coupled with the amenities found in other major cities. We look forward to hosting the Draft and once again showcasing Cleveland’s ability to organize successful, world-class events.”

On Wednesday, Nashville announced that $132.8 million poured into the city over three days last month. Dallas says it reaped $125 million from hosting the draft in 2018, and Philadelphia rang in at $94 million in 2017.

“Cleveland is honored to be selected as the host city for the 2021 NFL Draft and we are excited to once again show the world that this city can set a standard for hosting some of the world’s largest events,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “This event will provide international media exposure and has proven to provide more than $100 million in economic impact to the host city. We look forward to showing NFL fans across the nation how Cleveland throws a party.


“Being awarded the 2021 NFL Draft wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering commitment of the Cleveland Browns, the support of the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, the State of Ohio and so many others who helped make this a reality. As Cleveland continues to shine in the national spotlight with the unique opportunity to host four major sporting events over the next six years, including the Draft, we are proud of this achievement which few destinations are able to accomplish.”

It’s the second major sporting event to take place in Cleveland over the next few years. The Major League Baseball All-Star game will take place here on July 9 this summer.

The original proposal included the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the city of Canton, but the current bid was streamlined to just Cleveland. More than 20 cities submitted bids and 13 had representatives in Nashville, where more than 600,000 fans attended the draft -- an NFL record.

During the original bid last year, Gilbert - CEO of the 2016 Republican National Convention Host Committee -- noted that Cleveland is well-equipped to pull off such a monumental event.

"I think we feel very confident that if they choose Cleveland that we are going to deliver in a big way,'' he said. “We’re not going to be learning on the job.”


Browns Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins noted last year that “we’re about a day’s drive within half of the NFL cities (13 teams are within an eight-hour drive), so we have a tremendous ability to track fans from other regions.”

The draft reached record numbers in 2019 in attendance and national TV viewership, eclipsing records set in 2018. The 2019 draft was broadcast over three days and attracted more than 47.5 million total viewers and over 600,000 in attendance.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued this statement:

"Ohio is the birthplace of professional football and the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I applaud the NFL's decision to hold the NFL Draft in Cleveland and give the Cleveland Browns and all of Ohio the opportunity to spotlight Ohio's professional football history and passionate fans.

"In hosting the MLB All-Star Game this July, the NFL Draft in 2021, and the NBA All-Star Game in 2022, three of the country's biggest professional sports leagues have each decided to showcase all that Cleveland has to offer, and I could not agree more."

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted added:

“Cleveland is a great choice for the NFL Draft. It has some of the best NFL fans in the nation and is right up the road from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. You can see the history of the NFL and the future of the NFL all in one day.”

Pittsburgh radio.

Man I'm excited for this...

This is great. Can't wait to go!

That'll be a large infusion of cash into the city. Good for the local businesses.

NCAA men's tournament will be fun to go to as well.

I was listening to the radio for a little this morning and the big question is where downtown would they have all the activity? There really isn't a location similar to Broadway in Nashville with hundreds of bars in one area. Plus that camera view looking behind the players and Goodell into Broadway was an amazing shot.

- One opinion is to do it near East 4th where ESPN would do their live playoffs broadcast when the Cavs were good.

- Another is near the Rock n Roll HOF, Browns Stadium, Science Center area where you could try and grab a view of the lakefront.

- Maybe on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario (Progressive Field) where a portion of the Championship Parade was held? Plus the intersection to the Carnegie Bridge can provide added foot traffic and stageing.

- Then there is the lawn where the Championship Parade ended and the stage was built for speeches and other presentations.

In the end, they have a few options but the Broadway view in Nashville was pretty impressive.

There is a press conference and party happening in Public Square right now for getting the NFL draft.

I LOVE THIS TOWN.

East 4th is too small of a location. I'm sure they'll have some activities around there, however.

Public Square has been discussed as well.

I think the Rock Hall is a real possibility. That being said, I think I'm going to book a room at the Hilton on Lakeside now (if they'll let me book that far out). The Hilton website only goes a year out.

Something I saw in the news today. Expenses for the 2019 draft in Nashville were $25M.....the NFL picked up $20M of it.

If this is accurate, any city that hosts the draft is making a killing out from one of the biggest events in major sports. My guess is that it's going to be a rotation like an All-Star Game, which is the right thing to do. Maybe larger cities get more frequency than others, but it is what it is.

The draft seems like one of the most boring events a person can attend live.

Cleveland Police Twitter is pretty good. Not as good as Cleveland Indians Twitter, but it's up there.

So I have to wonder...If doing a great job in the 2021 Draft might help towards a possible hosting of a Super Bowl. After all the 2014 game was in New Jersey. So it is not like a cold weather, open stadium team doesn't have a chance...I think it unlikely....BUT....stranger things have happened.

New Jersey is cold AND next to NYC. Cleveland is just cold. Put a dome on the stadium and there’s a chance.

I didn't listen to the radio...

But I thought I heard or read it would be Jacob's Pavilion area, which seems small to me... and perhaps dangerous for a lot of drunks near a river? Or the flats... which I think has been wonderfully redone. They could put the stage to the west of Margaritaville. And perhaps watch from either street? I think it is a great area and could WOW people who have not been here into thinking hey, Cleveland is a pretty cool place. The East Bank seems to be a forgotten area and would be great for business. I meant to add, it's also easy access to the RTA train station...

The west bank of the flats could certainly be an option. Tons of surface parking that could be used to place staging and have fan activities around.

so we all going or nah?

I am hoping that my back is in good enough shape by then to go.

Im going. Always talked about going to new York back in the day. Now i don't have to. Last year's draft would have been incredible. Or the draft before.