Kansas City doesn’t have to wait any longer. The NFL has officially named the city as the host of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Preparations can now finally begin. After multiple bids to host the NFL Draft in recent years, Kansas City was finally rewarded for their continued efforts with the announcement that K.C. would serve as the official site for the 2023 NFL Draft.
The news came on Wednesday afternoon after owners concluded their spring meetings in Key Biscayne, Florida to vote on a number of issues, from proposals about rule changes to ownership sales and more.
The festivities for the 2023 draft will be held in and around Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial, per a press release. Not only will the official televised event take place there, but fans and their families can also take part in the draft experience during all three days as well, which includes a kid-friendly mix of activities and games, autograph sessions with various NFL players and personalities, interactive exhibits and much more—all for free.
Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, made a statement via a press release:
“We are excited to work with the Kansas City Chiefs, the City of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Sports Commission to showcase the area for a week-long celebration of football that will be watched by millions of fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We know Chiefs fans will come out to celebrate along with thousands of fans from teams around the country for an incredible experience as we welcome the next generation of NFL players.”
The NFL Draft was a huge economic boom in the last month for Nashville, Tennessee as over 600,000 spectators came to the event in the city’s downtown. Per a recent report, the event generated $133 million in direct spending in Nashville and $224 million in an overall economic impact. Not only did the event spur plenty of tourists to come to the region over the weekend, but the advertisement of Nashville as such a strong host site will benefit the region in the months and years to come.
With years to plan the event, here’s hoping K.C. enjoys the same benefits and then some as the draft comes to town.