By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Well, it was as good a consolation prize as Las Vegas could have expected Thursday when the NFL said the annual player draft event will be on the Strip at Caesars in 2022 after the spectacle was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic that wiped out the sports industry this spring.
Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement that the Draft event is coming to Las Vegas in two years, thought he mistakenly said 2020 on the live video conferencing production tonight.
In an NFL press release, Goodell said in a prepared statement, “Congratulations to Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Raiders’ organization and Raider Nation.”
In another prepared statement, LVCVA chief Steve Hill said, “We’re thrilled the NFL has given us the opportunity to host the Draft in Las Vegas in 2022. While disappointed we were unable to bring this exciting event to life this year.”
Clark County had approved the Strip road closures for the NFL Draft months ago. But that was before the novel coronavirus changed all that and shut down sports in the U.S. and across the world. The Draft was going to use the Caesars Forum for the player pick announcements and a red carpet on a temporary stage in the Bellagio fountains with players reaching the stage by boat.
The Draft will happen in Las Vegas — but in two years, not this week. Next year, the NFL Draft is held in Cleveland.
The Raiders also revealed their Las Vegas Raiders branded merchandise when the NFL team picked the first ever draft pick as a Las Vegas-based franchise with the 12th selection of speedy Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III.
Though, Ruggs also drew a lot of attention for wearing a robe when he was picked by the Raiders.
The Raiders also picked Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette with the 19th pick of the first round.
The NFL-ESPN video conferencing production was impressive, with the scenes from the home offices of team general managers and coaches offering a sometimes eye-opening glimpse at the houses and families you otherwise would not see. From the lavish house and outdoor cabanas of Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury and his modernistic “war room” to the off-beat, quasi-bizarre scene at Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s war room office, fans got a rare peak at the personal sides of NFL GMs and coaches you otherwise would not glimpse if the draft was staged in Las Vegas.
The Raiders stadium and a quiet Strip also got some publicity from ESPN on footage shots during the broadcast.
And Las Vegas as the NFL’s newest host city was tangible in seeing the graphic on TV for the first time.
Notes from the NFL on the first round picks.
Check out the Raiders stadium — from the Red Rock scenic drive some 25 miles to the west.
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