Browns and Cleveland to host the 2021 NFL Draft: ‘It’s a big, big deal to our area,’ says Jimmy Haslam

Roger Goodell

The NFL draft will take place in Cleveland in 2021.AP

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns are aiming for the Super Bowl, but for now, they’ve landed the offseason one.

The 2021 NFL Draft is coming to The Land.

Through a combined effort of the Browns and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, the city of Cleveland was awarded the league’s biggest offseason event, the league announced Wednesday. Kansas City will host the 2023 draft.

Cleveland’s selection was approved at the NFL Spring Meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla., with Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam on hand for the announcement.

The three days of the draft in April will bring fans downtown for free celebrations at iconic locations such as FirstEnergy Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the shores of Lake Erie.

"Dee (Haslam) I and (Executive Vice President JW Johnson) want to thank our fellow owners and the NFL for having confidence in our organization, the city of Cleveland,'' Jimmy Haslam said at the press conference. "It’s a big, big deal to our area, one of the founding areas of the NFL and we look forward to hosting the draft.

"The NFL went on the road several years ago and the drafts have been held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and Nashville have been tremendously successful and we look forward to following in their footsteps.”

The Browns, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, City of Cleveland and Destination Cleveland will host a press conference at 3 p.m. in Public Square Thursday, including a free fan tailgate. Browns general manager John Dorsey, Johnson, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and former Browns Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs will attend, as well as Mayor Frank Jackson.

“We are incredibly honored to be able to showcase the City of Cleveland and the passion of Browns fans through the unique international platform the NFL Draft provides,'' Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a release. "This is an exceptional opportunity for Northeast Ohio that even extends beyond football, and we look forward to continuing the work ahead with Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, the City of Cleveland, Destination Cleveland and the NFL to ensure that the 2021 NFL Draft is truly memorable for Northeast Ohio and football fans across the world.”

Fortunately, not everything that happens in Vegas, where the 2020 draft will be held, stays in Vegas.

“Cleveland has a passionate fan base and the city offers distinctive iconic locations and attractions that will bring the NFL Draft experience to fans in unique and exciting ways,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the release.

The 2021 draft also coincides with the Browns’ 75th anniversary celebration.

“The City of Cleveland welcomes the 2021 National Football League Draft,” Jackson said. “Visitors will find Cleveland has an unmatched ability to provide Midwestern warmth and hospitality coupled with the amenities found in other major cities. We look forward to hosting the Draft and once again showcasing Cleveland’s ability to organize successful, world-class events.”

On Wednesday, Nashville announced that $132.8 million poured into the city over three days last month. Dallas says it reaped $125 million from hosting the draft in 2018, and Philadelphia rang in at $94 million in 2017.

“Cleveland is honored to be selected as the host city for the 2021 NFL Draft and we are excited to once again show the world that this city can set a standard for hosting some of the world’s largest events,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “This event will provide international media exposure and has proven to provide more than $100 million in economic impact to the host city. We look forward to showing NFL fans across the nation how Cleveland throws a party.

“Being awarded the 2021 NFL Draft wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering commitment of the Cleveland Browns, the support of the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, the State of Ohio and so many others who helped make this a reality. As Cleveland continues to shine in the national spotlight with the unique opportunity to host four major sporting events over the next six years, including the Draft, we are proud of this achievement which few destinations are able to accomplish.”

It’s the second major sporting event to take place in Cleveland over the next few years. The Major League Baseball All-Star game will take place here on July 9 this summer.

The original proposal included the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the city of Canton, but the current bid was streamlined to just Cleveland. More than 20 cities submitted bids and 13 had representatives in Nashville, where more than 600,000 fans attended the draft -- an NFL record.

During the original bid last year, Gilbert - CEO of the 2016 Republican National Convention Host Committee -- noted that Cleveland is well-equipped to pull off such a monumental event.

"I think we feel very confident that if they choose Cleveland that we are going to deliver in a big way,'' he said. “We’re not going to be learning on the job.”

Browns Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins noted last year that “we’re about a day’s drive within half of the NFL cities (13 teams are within an eight-hour drive), so we have a tremendous ability to track fans from other regions.”

The draft reached record numbers in 2019 in attendance and national TV viewership, eclipsing records set in 2018. The 2019 draft was broadcast over three days and attracted more than 47.5 million total viewers and over 600,000 in attendance.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued this statement:

"Ohio is the birthplace of professional football and the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I applaud the NFL's decision to hold the NFL Draft in Cleveland and give the Cleveland Browns and all of Ohio the opportunity to spotlight Ohio's professional football history and passionate fans.

"In hosting the MLB All-Star Game this July, the NFL Draft in 2021, and the NBA All-Star Game in 2022, three of the country's biggest professional sports leagues have each decided to showcase all that Cleveland has to offer, and I could not agree more."

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted added:

“Cleveland is a great choice for the NFL Draft. It has some of the best NFL fans in the nation and is right up the road from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. You can see the history of the NFL and the future of the NFL all in one day.”

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