NFL Draft Back in Chicago in 2016

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fans cheer after Kevin White (West Virginia) is selected as the number seven overall pick to the Chicago Beras in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently the job done by the Windy City earlier this spring blew away the National Football League.

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On Tuesday, the NFL announced that for the second consecutive year the league’s annual selection meeting (also known as the NFL draft) will take place in Chicago in 2016 (April 28-30).

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“We are excited to return to Chicago and look forward to creating an even better experience for our fans next year,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell via a league release. “Based on the success of last year’s draft and our high expectations for the 2016 draft, Chicago continues to raise the bar for future drafts.”

Ah, ha…future drafts. That was another part of the story on Tuesday as the league also announced that there will indeed some sort of process involving the location of future drafts.

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number third overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Hence, could we see some sort of system in which cities offer bids similar to the way cities vie for the right to host the Super Bowl? It sounds like just another good way to keep NFL talk and interest alive on a year around basis and at the same time give cities the opportunity to host one of the league’s signature events.

“Chicago is thrilled to welcome the 2016 NFL Draft back to America’s heartland,” said Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday (also via a league statement). “Our world class city will once again be transformed into Draft Town where NFL fans and players will gather as NFL teams make selections. As always, we look forward to working with the Chicago Bears, the NFL, and our neighborhood partners in making this an event that puts our world class city in the spotlight, while reinvesting in communities across the city.”

In 2015, the Windy City hosted the NFL draft and as Patrick M. O’Connell of the Chicago Tribune wrote over three months ago, it was a huge success as the city and event drew over 200,000 people.

“I would safely say it far exceeded our expectations,” said league spokesman Brian McCarthy back in May. “It was fantastic. In many ways, it was Super Bowl-like…It was the Super Bowl of the off-season.”

So it’s back-to-back drafts for Chicago. And why do you get the feeling that this proud city will be looking to top their 2015 presentation of this popular event?

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