NFL Says 300,000+ Attended Three-Day Draft Event In Las Vegas

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

More than 300,000 fans attended the NFL Draft in Las Vegas from Thursday to Saturday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday.

The National Football League invested millions of dollars into staging the three-day event in the heart of the Strip, with future NFL players walking a red carpet on a platform in the Fountains of Bellagio and getting called on to a stage for their new teams in a temporary theater structure behind the High Roller observation wheel behind the LInq.

The bar continues to be raised by our Draft host cities. Las Vegas put on an incredible show for our fans, partners, prospects and media. The teamwork from the Raiders, the Governor’s office, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority was remarkable and the thousands of people behind-the-scenes were the true first pick of the Draft. We appreciate the energy and hard work of everyone involved to put on a memorable event for the more than 300,000 fans in attendance over the three days and the millions watching around the world. — NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy

 

 

LVCVA CEO Steve Hill welcomes NFL Draft to Las Vegas during press event on closed Strip Thursday

LVSportsBiz.com thought the expected estimates of 500,000 were too high and that 300,000 would be the more realistic number of attendees.

The LVCVA, the public tourism promotion agency, celebrated the NFL Draft, which had many offshoot watch parties and events.

Gov. Steve Sisolak greets NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
Former Gov. Brain Sandoval at Raiders draft watch party Thursday.
Goodell with Raiders owner Mark Davis
Roger and Mark

After the NFL staged the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas in February and the Draft in April, next up for the NFL in Vegas is the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in February 2024.

“We look forward to working with many of the same people as we further develop, refine and executive our Las Vegas Super Bowl plans,” McCarthy said.

 


PSA

Alan Snel

Alan Snel brings decades of sports-business reporting experience to LVSportsBiz.com. Snel covered the business side of sports for the South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel, the Tampa Tribune and Las Vegas Review-Journal. As a city hall beat reporter, Snel also covered stadium deals in Denver and Seattle. In 2000, Snel launched a sport-business website for FoxSports.com called FoxSportsBiz.com. After reporting sports-business for the RJ, Snel wrote hard-hitting stories on the Raiders stadium for the Desert Companion magazine in Las Vegas and The Nevada Independent. Snel is also one of the top bicycle advocates in the country.