League expecting fans to flood Cleveland

The NFL figures if it could get through the NFL draft a year ago in a pandemic, the ’21 draft will run smoothly.

The NFL figures if it could get through the NFL draft a year ago when the nation was still learning what to do in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it can certainly make the 2021 draft, to be held in Cleveland April 29May 1, run smoothly.

“We are looking to paint the town ‘draft’,” Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of Club Business & League Events, said March 22 on a conference call. “In the days and weeks ahead, you’ll start to see ‘draft’ all over the city of Cleveland.”

With Lake Erie as a backdrop, stages for the three-day draft will be spread out across the huge Port Authority parking lot, FirstEnergy Stadium, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center.

The draft was set for Las Vegas in 2020, but the pandemic forced the entire event to be held virtually. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced picks from his basement. Coaches and general managers were in their separate homes, as were the players drafted. It offered a unique, personal view of the draft. Some of those aspects will carry over into plans for next month, but for the most part it will look to television viewers like a normal draft.

Goodell will be on stage in Cleveland, just as in years past at the particular draft site. Players will be on site, too, to walk on stage and be greeted by Goodell with a hug and the jersey of the drafting team.

The NFL, city and health officials are still working

on setting a number of how many fans will be allowed to attend the draft. The number is fluid as more and more people are vaccinated. Masks and social distancing are still musts.

“We certainly recognize that Cleveland is within driving distance of so many NFL markets, which is terrific,” Jon Barker, NFL president of Event Planning said on the conference call. “This will be a large-scale event. Even if we’re not announcing the exact numbers today, across the days of the draft tens of thousands of fans will have the opportunity to be part of this free draft experience. The general message is we certainly want to welcome fans not only from Cleveland but from outside as well.”

Fans wishing to attend the draft should go to NFL. com\draft, click on “register your interest in the draft” and fill out the necessary information. The league at

the end of March will release an NFL one-pass app.

“That basically is your mobile home for all things draft,” O’Reilly said. “If fans go to NFL.com\draft, they can sign up and we’ll release the app. That will be the way they get information and get into the free draft experience or understand what opportunities exist to get into the theatre itself.”

Select fans chosen by each individual team will get to be in an inner circle to sit near the stage. They might be special fans, health care workers or educators; it is up to each team. Anyone invited to sit in the inner circle must show proof they’ve been vaccinated.

Anyone attending the draft, even as part of the general throng, must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing. Fans will have an opportunity to walk onto the field at FirstEnergy Stadium and attempt field goals while watching the draft on the video scoreboard.

“Across that footprint of the theatre we’re building — the stadium, the Science Center and the Rock Hall — it’s really a unique footprint and was one of the huge opportunities we saw when Cleveland expressed interest in the draft in the first place,” O’Reilly said.

David Gilbert, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, on the conference call said the NFL and city officials are working with restaurants and other venues to set up safe, outdoor sites to watch the draft and enjoy themselves.

“We want all of downtown, when people aren’t at the draft, still to feel like it’s an extension of what is down at the lakefront,” Gilbert said.

The Browns pick 26th in the first round.