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NFL Draft will showcase City of Cleveland, Northeast Ohio to the world

The 2021 NFL Draft will showcase the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio to the world.

CLEVELAND — The NFL Draft annually attracts thousands of passionate fans from around the world to the host city, as well as millions of viewers on television, and since the league literally took the show on the road, the towns hosting the signature offseason event have been spotlighted.

After seeing the likes of Chicago, Philadelphia, Arlington, Texas and Nashville be featured in recent years and expecting to follow an impressive show in Las Vegas in 2020, Cleveland is getting ready for the spotlight, as it was selected as the host city for the 2021 NFL Draft.

“America will get a dose of what makes Cleveland and all of you so special,” “Voice of the Browns,” WKYC sports anchor Jim Donovan said while emceeing the “Rock the Clock” press conference at Public Square Thursday.

“When people come here from out of town from points all across the country, and the world for that matter, when you’re talking about football, when people come here, they have a great time, they love it here and they leave here with a smile because of all of you and all the hard work that goes into events like this.”

In recent years, Cleveland has hosted or secured the rights to host major events including the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the 2019 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, regional semifinals and finals of the 2015 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

Additionally, Cleveland has hosted NBA Finals games (2015-2018), and both the Republican National Convention (RNC) and World Series in 2016.

“They all chose Cleveland, every one of them,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland. “This city is on a huge roll, and when this city puts its mind to something, when we want to accomplish something, we absolutely can and do, do it.

“If anyone who saw the draft on TV this year, it was one big, constant commercial for the NFL and Nashville, and that’s what we can look forward to in Cleveland.”

Browns general manager John Dorsey was among the dignitaries in attendance at the “Rock the Clock” press conference Thursday, and like Gilbert, he believes this is an opportunity for Cleveland to showcase what makes it special.

“Now, Cleveland has a chance to show the world in 2021 what we’re all about,” Dorsey said.

Browns executive JW Johnson added, “We know everybody here is going to rally around, do what they can, give back to show the NFL that this is the best draft city they’ve ever had, period. We felt that it was clear that this city get recognized, and the NFL also recognized this fan base and how passionate it is and how important football is to Cleveland and northeast Ohio.”

After talking about the $100-plus million in potential economic impact for the Northeast Ohio region with hotel stays and restaurant business, Gilbert promised NFL executive Aubrey Walton that Cleveland “will work harder than any other city who has put on the draft.”

“We really are at a very transformative time in Cleveland,” Gilbert said. “The number of people visiting here is going up by the millions. Last year, 18 million people visited for leisure and business travel.

“We’re being discovered. We’re being rediscovered. I think the perception of Cleveland nationally, regionally and locally, is back on an upswing. Attracting these kinds of events like the draft should make Clevelanders proud. We’re a wonderful place and we deserve to get this.”

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