I do not believe a thread has been created for this yet. If so... well, I'll let the powers that be handle it.

 

While it is super exciting for us all that Cleveland is hosting the 2021 NFL Draft, I cannot help but think about the impacts this will have on the city, region and state. Just the logistics alone might be staggering. Perhaps not on the scale of the RNC Convention with all those prison like fences downtown, but still pretty intense. 

 

Where will we hold the event? I'm thinking the Malls are the likely candidate for the actual draft with the fan experience perhaps around the stadium and the Port area to the north (presuming any of the proposed Pace development has not started). I suppose something could be held on a closed of street such as it was Nashville: Euclid Ave, Superior, West 6th? Or perhaps evan Public Auditorium/Hall. Who knows. As long as it is not at Burke. That would be a waste, IMO. 

 

Anyway, here is the thread to discuss all that is and will become.

 

Ready, steady, go.....

https://clecityhall.com/2019/05/24/photos-nfl-draft-coming-to-cleveland-in-2021/

 

PHOTOS: NFL Draft Coming to Cleveland in 2021

 

The City of Cleveland will host the 86th annual NFL Draft in the year 2021. Mayor Frank G. Jackson, alongside a host of unwavering Browns fans, Browns players and others convened in Downtown Cleveland’s Public Square on Thursday, May 23 for a public tailgate party in celebration of the announcement.

 

“Visitors will find Cleveland has an unmatched ability to provide Midwestern warmth and hospitality coupled with the amenities found in other major cities,” said Mayor Jackson in a statement. “We look forward to hosting the draft and once again showcasing Cleveland’s ability to organize successful, world-class events.”

 

Destination Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission CEO David Gilbert and current and former Browns players also joined the sea of brown and orange fans to share celebratory remarks. The 2021 NFL Draft will coincide with the Browns’ 75th anniversary.

 

 

*meh*

 

 

 

Locations, economic impact, costs, clearing up misconceptions — a deeper look at Cleveland hosting the 2021 NFL draft

 

Cleveland has landed the NFL draft, and Northeast Ohio is as fired up as Baker Mayfield was to face Hue Jackson last season.

Events of this magnitude bring a lot of talk about economic impact, generate plenty of questions about who gets what and produce a ton of snark from the Twitter trolls.

So let's try to clear up some of the confusion as Cleveland gets set to celebrate hosting the 2021 draft with an event Thursday afternoon in Public Square:

 

Location, location, location: 

A release announcing the news on May 22 said there would be "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." It didn't mention a specific location for the draft, and David Gilbert, the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, said in a conference call that a "final site won't be determined for a while."

 

Plans for the event, Gilbert said, "will continue to change and evolve."

 

The NFL, as you might expect, has a major say in every draft detail, which is why the original plan of holding the first two days of the draft at Public Auditorium and the final four rounds at the Pro Football Hall of Fame was scrapped after Cleveland wasn't selected to host the 2019 and '20 drafts that were awarded to Nashville and Las Vegas, respectively, in 2018. That proposal, Browns chief operating officer David Jenkins told us last year, created too many logistical challenges for the league.

 

The Hall of Fame "will absolutely play a role" in the 2021 draft, Gilbert said Wednesday. But the Canton landmark won't host one of the three days.

 

If you watched the 2019 draft on TV, you might have been captivated by the scene in Nashville, with the streets packed — almost Cavs championship parade-like — and fans watching from rooftops and the windows of highrises. What you might not have seen, Gilbert pointed out Wednesday, was "the NFL Draft Experience was about a 15-minute walk away over a pedestrian bridge to the parking lot in and around their NFL stadium. I think that it actually was more spread out as a full experience than what we saw on TV. I think that will be the same in Cleveland."

 

We expect much of downtown to be part of what has turned into a three-day party, with the malls and the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland being heavily involved, as the locations were in Cleveland's original draft bid.

 

"It largely is an outdoor event just by its nature," Gilbert said.

 

And if you're concerned about the weather in Cleveland in late April, Gilbert, who was part of the Northeast Ohio contingent who made the trip to Tennessee for the draft last month, said it "was pouring rain when the first pick was announced in Nashville. Thankfully, football fans are a hardy crowd."

 

Impact:

There is a cost:

Teams aren't cashing in:

Same goes for the city:

Yes, they should fix the potholes:

The money won't go toward a megadeal for Francisco Lindor:

Cleveland isn't going to celebrate its All-Star status with the return of Snow Days:

Also not included:

Appreciate this:

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/kevin-kleps-blog/locations-economic-impact-costs-clearing-misconceptions-deeper-look-cleveland

 

NFL, Cleveland officials aren't tipping their hand about exact location for 2021 draft

 

We know the NFL draft will touch down in Cleveland in the spring of 2021.

 

We know it will be a spectacle.

 

And we're confident it will be a very good thing for the region.

 

What we don't know are the specifics, but it's not from a lack of effort.

 

Eight days ago, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Browns celebrated the city landing the draft with a free tailgate at Public Square. We asked everyone we could where the draft would be held, since the May 22 announcement only said there would be "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.

 

MORE: https://www.crainscleveland.com/kevin-kleps-blog/nfl-cleveland-officials-arent-tipping-their-hand-about-exact-location-2021-draft

 

Edited May 31, 20196 yr by musky

 

NFL Draft Main Stage set for Lake Erie: League releases event details

Updated 11:46 AM; Today 9:49 AM

By Cameron Fields, cleveland.com

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL released its plans Monday for the 2021 NFL Draft, scheduled April 29-May 1 on Lake Erie.

 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be in attendance to announce draft picks on the NFL Draft Main Stage in North Coast Harbor, and invited guests will sit at the Draft Theatre. Some of those guests will include people selected for the Inner Circle, in which fans chosen by each of the league’s 32 teams will have a seat to cheer on selected picks. Those fans will be required to be vaccinated.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/03/nfl-draft-main-stage-set-for-lake-erie-league-releases-event-details.html

NFL tweet:

 

 

 

 

Now they know damn well the Fifth Third Center is not that tall.

 

#fakenews

14 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Now they know damn well the Fifth Third Center is not that tall.

 

#fakenews

The perspective is thrown off because of the liberal sprinkling of Keith Buildings. I count four in that second render. Which is extra funny since that building isn’t even in the part of downtown that is shown. 

Ha!  Global Center for Health Innovation is a wee bit taller too... plus another Keith building for good measure. 

 

Edited March 23, 20214 yr by MuRrAy HiLL

Rode my bike down there a bit earlier, they'll have some powerwashing to do! lol that said, sunset was killer tonight, as long as the weather cooperates it's going to be an amazing sell for the city.

 

https://m.facebook.com/clesports/photos/pb.128203721108.-2207520000../10157707656671109/?type=3

Neat aerial 

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5439118089493596&id=616358491769604&m_entstream_source=video_home&player_suborigin=entry_point&player_format=permalink

The stage is coming along nicely 

 

 

 

And it can be reused as a Goodyear blimp hangar.  😄

Great view from the stage:

 

 

It’s unfortunate this will be a mostly virtual event. Im ready for big crowds to return for conventions, concerts and everything else. I was a little shocked tho that only around 13 players accepted the invite to attend in person. But COVID is still around so Its understandable.
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/13-players-attend-nfl-draft-145815907.html

Edited April 24, 20214 yr by 646empire

8 minutes ago, 646empire said:

It’s unfortunate this will be a mostly virtual event. Im ready for big crowds to return for conventions, concerts and everything else. I was a little shocked tho that only around 13 players accepted the invite to attend in person. But COVID is still around so Its understandable.
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/13-players-attend-nfl-draft-145815907.html

I really hope Cleveland gets to host again in the next 10 years as a make up for a poorly attended draft.

18 minutes ago, 646empire said:

It’s unfortunate this will be a mostly virtual event. Im ready for big crowds to return for conventions, concerts and everything else. I was a little shocked tho that only around 13 players accepted the invite to attend in person. But COVID is still around so Its understandable.
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/13-players-attend-nfl-draft-145815907.html

 

A buddy of mine had been in the convention and trade show industry for 22 years. He tried holding out for things to "start up again" but just couldn't make it. People who understand that industry deeply are usually in high demand since it's so specific. I don't know if his company would have been involved with the draft this time otherwise but it's hard to tell if the local electricians were even involved or if it's all TV people. Maybe the lighting rig.

9 hours ago, GCrites80s said:

 

A buddy of mine had been in the convention and trade show industry for 22 years. He tried holding out for things to "start up again" but just couldn't make it. People who understand that industry deeply are usually in high demand since it's so specific. I don't know if his company would have been involved with the draft this time otherwise but it's hard to tell if the local electricians were even involved or if it's all TV people. Maybe the lighting rig.

There are lots of locals working the event.   So much so the local IATSE (stagehands union) had to put out calls throughout the state finding more people because they couldn't staff it locally.  Along with the locals, there are THOUSANDS of out of town personnel staying in hotels and spending their per diems here, which is even more important! 

Excellent! 

Some nice stuff about the draft at the beginning of the most recent Building the Browns episode:

 

Lots of traffic around CBS this morning. Lots of unmarked white trucks (usually for lights and sound, to my understanding). There was significant backup on the EB shoreway, Muni Lot exit, too. 

Very exciting to see

I didn't know there is going to be 50,000 people there!

Fun to start seeing the national interviews / coverage:

 

 

Sneak peek:

 

 

Edited April 27, 20214 yr by MuRrAy HiLL

Love love love all the national coverage :

 

 

I see I’m the only one sharing, but I won’t stop :). Pumped for CLE to be hosting

 

 

I went down there last night and they've got it locked down like there's going to be a bunch of billionares walking around lol. 

 

I'll post one of the dSLR pics I got once I get it on my laptop...

As promised

^cool pic!  The “fog” honestly makes the draft setting almost look surreal.

12 hours ago, GISguy said:

 

I went down there last night and they've got it locked down like there's going to be a bunch of billionares walking around lol. 

 

Well you must’ve been right about this, the crowd looks very sparse and disjointed on TV. I understand Coronavirus precautions but I think the league could have done better with the setup. I also would have preferred the stage to be positioned for constant city views rather than the pitch black nighttime lake in the background. The broadcast just seems really flat which is actually unusual for the NFL, the NBA does a great job showing off cities too. Maybe the weather didn’t help either.

Edited April 30, 20214 yr by 646empire

17 minutes ago, 646empire said:

Well you must’ve been right about this, the crowd looks very sparse and disjointed on TV. I understand Coronavirus precautions but I think the league could have done better with the setup. I also would have preferred the stage to be positioned for constant city views rather than the pitch black nighttime lake in the background. The broadcast just seems really flat which is actually unusual for the NFL, the NBA does a great job showing off cities too. Maybe the weather didn’t help either.

I've noticed that since the weather broke they've been getting more city shots. It's like they were just waiting for it and now they seem to be pointing the cameras in that direction. I agree though, it would've been nice to have the stage oriented the other way but it would've been kind of awkward. Overall though it seems like (weather aside) Cleveland's done a pretty great job. I think tomorrow is going to be great - weather is going to be good and the city should really shine.

23 minutes ago, GISguy said:

I've noticed that since the weather broke they've been getting more city shots. It's like they were just waiting for it and now they seem to be pointing the cameras in that direction. I agree though, it would've been nice to have the stage oriented the other way but it would've been kind of awkward. Overall though it seems like (weather aside) Cleveland's done a pretty great job. I think tomorrow is going to be great - weather is going to be good and the city should really shine.

With better weather maybe they can get a blimp/Drone or whatever for some nice Ariel shots.

I’ll be doing the draft experience tomorrow with some friends and staying downtown after to watch the draft at one of the viewing areas. We are all really excited for it!

Edited April 30, 20214 yr by cle_guy90

Positive ripple effects already happening from hosting the Draft.  I will say anytime we host something people are always impressed which is a testament to those involved.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2021/04/i-didnt-know-you-had-a-beach-and-other-observations-about-cleveland-from-meeting-planners-in-town-for-the-nfl-draft.html

1 hour ago, cle_guy90 said:

Positive ripple effects already happening from hosting the Draft.  I will say anytime we host something people are always impressed which is a testament to those involved.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2021/04/i-didnt-know-you-had-a-beach-and-other-observations-about-cleveland-from-meeting-planners-in-town-for-the-nfl-draft.html

Cleveland is very pretty and has a very nice downtown. Cleveland in the summer with the flats and the lake are a blast. 

But then I remember the reason why I left Cleveland. It had nothing to do with the people, or the amenities that the town had to offer but a ton to do with the weather for 9 months out of the year. 

The summer humidity essentially anywhere south of here is enough to put up with Cleveland's three months of lousy weather. Although, we barely have winters here anymore. I've only had to shovel my driveway 6x during the last three winters, combined.

Edited April 30, 20214 yr by Clefan98

The whiny weather forecasters here like to make every snow event sound like the storm of the century.   

Then you have to hear inaccurate weather reports from every woman over 50 you see that overestimate the amount of snow by 3-4X.

Just a couple screenshots from the broadcast on Saturday. Thought it all came across great. Would have been nice to have a little better luck with the weather / pandemic. Maybe we will get it back sometime.

@AerialAgentsCLE of course

Just curious... did the Rock Hall not give permission to the NFL to use images of its building during the various broadcasts?  I don't recall ever seeing it over the 3-day draft. 

2 hours ago, DO_Summers said:

Just curious... did the Rock Hall not give permission to the NFL to use images of its building during the various broadcasts?  I don't recall ever seeing it over the 3-day draft. 

I doubt that since the red carpet was located directly in front of the RRHOF on the plaza.  

AerialAgents

 

 

^ wasting their time on a stadium that’s doomed for the wrecking ball! 
 

*allegedly ;-)