Once again, the NFL has decided that fans still won’t have the ability to decide on just who their favorite team selects in the 2018 Draft. Maybe next year? However, in an attempt to bring fans closer to the Draft experience than ever before, the NFL has created the “Inner Circle”. All 32 franchises have personally selected more than 50 of their most loyal fans to represent their favorite teams as Draft ambassadors. Members taking part in the first-ever experience will sit within the “Inner Circle”, a designated team area located directly in front of the NFL Draft Theatre on the field of AT&T Stadium. The 1,600+ fans will be broken in to rivalry zones, where they will be provided various props such as t-shirts, rally towels, foam fingers, flags, and more. Fans will also be provided LED lanyards that light up when their team is on the clock, allowing them to flash their team spirit on national television. To take the experience one step further, on Thursday some lucky fans will be visited by their team’s draft pick after walking the stage. On Friday, NFL legends will take part take part in a meet and greet within the “Inner Circle”, where selfies with the greats will surely be in abundance.
Here is a sample of what members of the “Inner Circle” and viewers can expect to see:
- Arizona Cardinals: Local season ticket members in the Texas area will receive scarves and be joined by team cheerleaders.
- Atlanta Falcons: Fans selected from The Cast fan club will be led in procession with a team drum.
- Baltimore Ravens: Season ticket members will be joined by cheerleaders and Poe, the team mascot.
- Buffalo Bills: Members of the local chapter of Bills Backers fan club will participate and receive foam fingers, rally towels, and t-shirts.
- Dallas Cowboys: Members of the Dallas Cowboys United Fan Club will rally behind their team and receive rally towel and pom-poms.
- Green Bay Packers: Local season ticket members and fans will be given “Cheesehead” hats to wear during the event.
- Indianapolis Colts: Fans from local booster clubs and members of the team’s women’s fan club will be on-site with t-shirts and flags.
- New England Patriots: Season ticket members and local fan club members will receive thunder sticks and be joined by Patriots Legends.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Members of Steelers Nation Unite fan club will waive their Terrible Towels from the field.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Local fans will receive light-up sticks waved during the Championship parade.
- San Francisco 49ers: Texas-based booster club members are receiving wristbands that light up when their team makes a selection.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Local Bucs fans holding foam pirate swords will cheer on their team.
The draft will take place in Arlington, Texas from Thursday, April 26 – Saturday, April 28 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. This is the first time the NFL Draft will be held at an NFL stadium. Fans without tickets can register for a chance to attend by downloading the NFL Draft – Fan Mobile Pass app and checking in at the NFL Draft Experience presented by Oikos Triple Zero®.
