CLEVELAND -- The 2021 NFL Draft is coming to Cleveland, but we didn't have to wait two years to celebrate.
One day after the NFL announced that Cleveland will host its 2021 draft, the city, in conjunction with the Browns, held a 'Rock the Draft' press conference and tailgate in Public Square. The event, which was open to the public, was emceed by the "Voice of the Browns," WKYC's Jim Donovan and streamed live on WKYC.com.
PHOTOS | City of Cleveland announces 2021 NFL Draft
WKYC's coverage began at 2:30 p.m. with a pre-show hosted by Ben Axelrod and Nick Camino. The event itself followed at 3 p.m., with speakers including Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, Browns General Manager John Dorsey, cornerback and Nordonia native Denzel Ward, and former Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs.
Following the event, Nick Camino asked fans for their thoughts about the draft coming to Cleveland in 2021:
About the Draft
After holding its annual draft in New York City from 1965-2014, the NFL began to take the show on the road, holding the event in locations including Chicago, Philadelphia, Arlington (Texas) and most recently, Nashville. In that time, the draft has proven to be a big boon for whichever city hosts it, with Nashville reporting a $133 million economic impact from the 2019 NFL Draft.
Under its current format, the draft is a three-day affair, with the first round held on Thursday, the second and third rounds taking place on Friday and the fifth-seventh rounds occurring on Saturday. A specific location in Cleveland for the 2021 draft has yet to be announced, although league officials have said it will "bring fans together for free celebrations at iconic downtown locations around FirstEnergy Stadium, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as on the shore of Lake Erie."
What they're saying:
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: “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. We look forward to collaborating with the Cleveland Browns, the City of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland to celebrate the achievements of the next generation of players and create a memorable fan experience.”
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam: “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. 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.”
Browns Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio: "I think it would show like, 'Hey, Cleveland's a cool place to be,' and it would be awesome for the community. We have truly diehard fans in this part of the country. It would be an awesome week. That would be for sure."