Welcome worthy of Rocky for draft
PHILADELPHIA — Yo, Roger, they did it.
When the NFL chose Philadelphia to host the 2017 draft, it quickly became clear one of the world’s most famous movie locations would be the perfect site to hold the threeday extravaganza.
“We had talked about a couple different venues for the NFL and they wanted the ‘Rocky’ steps and they wanted the Art Museum,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said. “So that’s what we gave them. It will be a terrific event.”
Perhaps NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will run up the famous steps before announcing the No. 1 pick. Those same steps immortalized by fictional hero Rocky Balboa 41 years ago will serve as the backdrop for the elaborate stage, including a 3,000seat, open-air theater, being constructed along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the NFL’s first outdoor draft.
The free event is being called the largest fan experience ever produced by the NFL. More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the half-mile area this week to enjoy the festivities. The first round begins Thursday night.
Some tourists and residents in the area have been grumbling for weeks about the lack of access to sidewalks and roads, and about the giant stage blocking most of the iconic “Rocky” steps.
Visitors won’t be able to run up those steps and raise their arms triumphantly at the top the way Sylvester Stallone did in the movie, but they can walk up the steps from the side and visit the Rocky statue at the bottom.
Joaquim Marquet of Valencia, Spain, came down to Philadelphia from New York City last week just to run up the steps.
“It was the one thing I wanted to do,” the 32-year-old said. It “was a bit disappointing, but I understand you can’t stop everything just for tourists.”
There will be a ton of other fun activities for visitors inside the NFL Draft Experience, which stretches the length of 25 football fields.
One of the interactives includes an opportunity for fans to test their 40-yard dash time against players. Adults and kids can kick field goals, run through obstacles or try the new 100-yard zip line.
Those who prefer to stay on the ground can get autographs from current and former players, take pictures with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and much more. Fans outside the theater can follow the draft on giant television screens.
The NFL draft is returning to its birthplace for the first time since 1961 and 11th time overall. On February 8, 1936, the first NFL draft was held at Philadelphia’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Teams took turns over nine rounds picking from 90 names written on a blackboard. There was no media coverage.
The NFL says the event is expected to generate $80 million in economic impact for the city.
The full cost of the NFL draft is close to $25 million. The NFL will cover $20 million, and the remaining $5 million is coming from private funding secured by the city.
“The pope cost us $8 million and the NFL draft is costing us $500,000, so the (return on investment) on that is quite spectacular,” said Kenney, referring to Pope Francis’ visit in 2015.