Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes respond to 2023 NFL Draft coming to Kansas City

Various members of the Kansas City Chiefs expressed their excitement about the city hosting the 2023 NFL Draft during Thursday’s media availability.

During Thursday’s media sessions with reporters, various members of the Kansas City Chiefs roster and staff expressed their excitement and support for the recent news that K.C. had been awarded the chance to host the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Kansas City region had attempted to serve as host city for the traveling three-day event to bring the NFL Draft to town, but they missed out in 2018 to Dallas and this year to Nashville. Kansas City maintained interest all the while, even as they were spurned each time despite being lauded for their proposals, and their endurance paid off when NFL owners approved the site in 2023 during the recent spring owners’ meetings in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Kansas City will now have the chance to showcase the character and culture of the city in a premiere way. Nashville just hosted the event in late April and put on a memorable event that brought 600,000 people to the downtown area. In addition, millions of viewers were able to see the city in myriad ways over the course of the weekend, bringing untold impact on the city’s tourism industry.

A recent survey published by the Tennesseean pointed out that the NFL Draft weekend brought in over $10.5 million in taxes and fees alone and that direct spending totaled more than $130 million.

When asked about the news, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responded, “I think it’s a tribute to Kansas City itself, the fans. It’ll be wild, it’ll be great for all the hotels and restaurants. I think it’s a win-win. And we’ll welcome everyone here. We just have to get red on everybody.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes followed suit and said it will prove to be an “amazing experience” for visiting fans.

“I think it is going to be awesome. First off, it is a great opportunity for the city to show off all the tradition and history that we have here. People are going to eat a lot of very good barbeque, they are going to get to see this city and everything that it has to offer.”

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins called it a “blessing,” and agreed with Mahomes that it’s great for the city.

“I think it’s exciting for all of the Kansas City people just to bring such a good thing to the city. Everyone can come here and watch our player get picked.”

Cleveland was the other host site picked in recent days. They will hold the 2021 NFL Draft with the 2022 site still yet to be determined.