The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Officials tout Cleveland hosting 2021 NFL Draft
Led by Mayor Frank Jackson, dignitaries boasted Cleveland’s winning bid to host the draft in two years. Jeff Schudel was on hand and has the details.
Fans, dignitaries and celebrities gathered at Public Square on May 23 were in a festive mood to hear one more time the announcement Cleveland will host the 2021 NFL draft.
The event was emceed by Browns radio voice and WKYC-TV 3 sports anchor Jim Donovan and featured Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission President and CEO Dave Gilbert.
Executive Vice President JW Johnson, General Manager John Dorsey, current cornerback Denzel Ward and former star kick and punt returner Josh Cribbs represented the Browns.
The message from each speaker carried the same theme: Cleveland will do a fantastic job hosting the draft, it will be an economic windfall for the area, and the city will be in the spotlight, not only because of the draft but because of it is hosting the 2019 MLB All-Star game, six games in the 2020 NCAA Men’s basketball tournament, the 2022 NBA All-Star game and the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four. And one more thing: Hosting the draft coincides with the Browns showing improvement on the field.
“We really are in a very transformative time in Cleveland,” Gilbert said. “The number of people visiting here is going up by the millions. Last year, 18.5 million people visited for leisure and business travel. We’re being discovered. We’re being rediscovered.
The perception of Cleveland nationally, regionally and locally is on the upswing.
“Attracting these kinds of events like the draft should make Clevelanders proud. We deserved to get this. This city is on a huge roll. And when this city puts its mind to something, when we want to accomplish something, we absolutely can and do do it.”
Gilbert said the 2019 draft “was one big commercial for Nashville” and predicted the 2021 draft will do the same for Cleveland.
“We have 23 months to perform and show the world this city knows how to party,” Gilbert said.
Donovan got the crowd buzzing with his opening remarks before introducing Jackson.
“Why did they select Cleveland? Because we know how to do this,” Donovan said. “We know how to handle big events. We know how to handle conventions.
We know how to handle NBA championships. We know how to handle a big parade (after the Cavs won the 2016 NBA championship).
“And, who knows? Maybe even before the draft comes here in 2021, maybe there will be a Super Bowl parade right here in downtown Cleveland.”
Budish added his own enthusiasm by pointing out how area hotels, restaurants and businesses will benefit from tourists from all over the country. He said visitors will return home and talk up Cleveland.
Budish, after all, was talking to a crowd of football fans who deep down care more about the Browns than a Cleveland hotel’s occupancy rate. He is wise enough to realize that.
“Let’s hope that at this draft in Cleveland in 2021, we pick last in the first round,” he said.
That implies the Browns will win the Super Bowl in the 2020 season.
The only one who didn’t talk about parades and Super Bowls was Dorsey. He wants his team to stay hungry.
“Don’t believe the hype!” Dorsey said. “It all starts in training camp. Those guys have to come together in training camp, and they’ll form their identity there.
“The veterans will set those goals and expectations high. They’ll drive those young guys to reach those goals. At the end of training camp they should have like-minded, single objective goals. As we all know, somewhere in the fall, you’re going to meet a moment of adversity. And guess what? If you’re strong and you have one belief and one single goal, you’ll be able to fight through those adverse moments. This group will do that. It’s a really good group.”