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Draft: tunes back to normal for the NFL

Unlike last year, the NFL Draft will take place not virtually, but on location in Cleveland. With a huge stage, thousands of fans on the spot and the commissioner Roger Goodell who will be copiously booed every time he shows up on the platform. It is a sign that life is resuming its course.

A year ago, the pandemic had just generated a shock wave in the world of sport. All major circuits were on hiatus and major events were wiped off the map.

Against all odds, the NFL refused to bow down and presented its annual draft in virtual format. In this scaled-down presentation, Goodell announced the selections live from his basement, the CEOs’ kids circled around the cameras in the house, and Bill Belichick’s dog stole the show.

This time, not to mention the magnitude of the sunny days, the draft is back in its glory.

From Thursday until Saturday, the city of Cleveland goes into draft mode and no less than 50,000 masked people per day are expected as part of the “Draft Experience”. It’s sort of a place where people can shop, view Hall of Fame artifacts, and compete in a variety of physical events that NFL prospects have to take part in before being drafted.


Several activities are offered outside the stadium, including a 40-yard run.

Photo AFP

Several activities are offered outside the stadium, including a 40-yard run.

It is a lot of people in the city in the current health context, but it remains much lower than the crowd of 400,000 people who was expected three days before COVID manifested itself.

At three locations downtown, areas will be set up to sit, watch the draft and watch shows. Once again, a completely different reality from the one currently prevailing in Quebec!

Two distinct areas

Spectators will also be able to watch the draft, which will take place on a huge stage on the shores of Lake Erie, near the Browns Stadium and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

An area reserved for vaccinated amateurs is planned around the stage and plans to bring together some 5,000 people, who will wear the mask. Another area will not require proof of vaccination, but the mask and more social distancing will be required. “The protocols are very important and the measures to enforce them will be strictly enforced,” said executive vice president of league events Peter O’Reilly earlier this week at a press conference.

To ensure that distancing measures are adhered to, the NFL chose to erect the biggest stage for the draft to date, at 220 feet wide, 225 feet deep and 95 feet tall.


Photo AFP

A few faces of players who have been inducted into the Football Hall of Fame are installed in the locker room of the “NFL Draft Experience”.

Player participation

Who says repechage in face-to-face mode also means return of the players to the stage when they are drafted. Twelve of the best prospects will be there and will be patient behind the scenes in their family bubbles equipped with state-of-the-art ventilation systems.

When their name is spoken, they will go on stage and can receive the traditional hug from Roger Goodell since they will all have passed a test for COVID-19 in the hours leading up to the draft.

Forty-five other players, including the alleged Jacksonville Jaguars’ first choice, Trevor Lawrence, will participate in the event virtually.

Accolades, big stage, spectators, it’s been so much 2019! A virtual return to the good old days …

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