This year, the NFL Draft took place in Chicago for the second year in a row. After years and years of being in New York, the draft changed spots back in October of 2014. Although the Draft did well in Chicago (I can attest to this from my experience there back in April), the NFL Draft appears to be on the move again.
League sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the 2017 Draft was likely relocating to Philadelphia a few months back. To add fuel to that fire, Pennsylvania congressman Bob Brady recently said that the city will officially host the Draft next year. While city officials have not confirmed this, it appears to be likely.
The NFL Draft was a huge source of revenue for Chicago, so it likely will be for Philadelphia as well. You can bet that Philly hotel owners and restaurateurs would be ecstatic if the Draft came to their city. There really isn’t really any downside from an economic standpoint for the city of Philadelphia.
The NFL chose Chicago as the new home of the NFL Draft mainly because Chicago is a football city. The fans there are loyal and passionate, so as a result, the Draft would get a large attendance. Given that fact, Philly is a great choice for the Draft’s next home. The fans there are also passionate, if not a little too passionate. You can bet there will be a huge turnout if the NFL went down that route. Also, the City of Brotherly Love is a big market area. While not as big as New York or Chicago, it is still a big city which is easily accessible for East Coast fans. Fans from New York, Baltimore, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Delaware could easily take a drive out to the Draft.
One thing that will be bitter for Philly fans, though, is that the Eagles don’t own a first-round pick next year.
