The National Football League announced that things would not be business as usual for the 2014 installment of the NFL Draft.
NFL business partners and league officials agreed Tuesday to delay the date of the 2014 NFL Draft. The event, which normally runs in late-April, has now been pushed back to the beginning of May.
Due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, prospective college athletes hoping to realize their NFL dreams will have to wait a little bit longer than in previous years. NFL business partners and league officials agreed to delay the NFL Draft to May 8-10.
The league had also considered moving the 2014 Draft to a different venue. However, a long-standing relationship with the legendary New York venue may have played a factor in the decision. Since 2006, Radio City Music Hall has hosted the popular pre-season process. In fact, you would have to go back to 1964 to find the last time that the NFL Draft was not held in NYC; the event was held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel.
League-wide concerns were that the change in date would negatively impact the rest of the NFL calendar of events. However, skeptics were put at ease when the league reported that the other regularly scheduled off-season activities would not be changed significantly. Had major changes been needed, sources say that the draft location may have been changed to accommodate for events such as training camp. Below is the fully disclosed statement.
“The change in the date of the 2014 Draft will have no effect on when rookies may begin to report to their clubs, the dates of off-season programs, or the length of off-season programs. Clubs will have available to them the same number of practice days that they currently have and no changes in the off-season calendar are being considered that would reduce the number of practice days or the overall length of the off-season program. At this time, changes are not anticipated in the off-season calendar for 2015 and beyond that would reduce the number of practice days or otherwise limit the off-season program.”
For the 2014 season, fans can expect a different NFL landscape. Regional scouting combines will be held from Jan. 24 through Feb. 16, 2014. The week-long National Combine, held in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, will take place from Feb. 18-25. The new league year and free agency are slated to begin on March 11, while the annual meeting in Orlando, will occur from March 23-26.
The biggest question that remains to be seen is how the changes in 2014 will impact future drafts. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that he has not yet made a decision for the 2015 Draft venue and beyond.
Though thousands of NFL fans representing all 32 NFL franchises annually flock to Radio City Music Hall, scheduling concerns may influence the choice of venue in the later years. One option would be to adopt a roving draft, similar to that of the NHL. Instead of hosting the event at team arenas, iconic structures around the country could be used to host the draft.
A change of scenery and locale could, in theory, bolster interest and attendance to the high-profile event. The opportunity for fans to travel somewhere new every year combined with attending a draft process in legendary arenas, concert halls, and other various architectural masterpieces could be an added incentive to attend.
The biggest deterrent in changing on a yearly basis comes down to consistency. From the event setup, to the fan experience, and even the availability to accommodate large audiences, there are very few cities in the US that compare to New York. With historical landmarks, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities galore, “The Big Apple” offers an experience that other big cities may not be able to compete with. Fans also have peace of mind knowing that they can feel safe while in town, as New York is thought to be considered one of the safest big cities to visit.
Regardless of the direction the NFL takes, fans will continue to travel in bunches to attend one of the premier events of the NFL season.
