When the 2020 NFL Draft came to its conclusion on Saturday, Cleveland found itself officially on the clock.
And as of Wednesday, that clock now reads "one year away," with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announcing on Tuesday that the 2021 NFL Draft will be taking place from April 29-May 1 next year.
Last May, the NFL announced that Cleveland had been awarded the 2021 NFL Draft at the league meetings in Key Biscayne, Florida. While an exact location for the draft has yet to be announced, a press release announcing its dates on Tuesday stated that the event will "bring NFL fans together at iconic locations around FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to celebrate the game of football."
“We’re excited for Cleveland to ‘Rock The Clock’ as the host of next year’s NFL Draft and NFL Draft Experience – assuming large gatherings can take place without compromising the well-being of participants,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland. “We, along with our partners at the NFL, the Cleveland Browns and the City of Cleveland, are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all spectators and participants. We’re working tirelessly to make this the best Draft event yet – for the NFL and its fans as well as for the Cleveland community.”
Originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, the 2020 NFL Draft was instead held remotely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During last week's first round, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Las Vegas will instead hold the 2022 NFL Draft, with Kansas City having previously been selected to host the event in 2023.
Over the course of its three days, the 2020 NFL Draft averaged a record 8.4 million viewers. With an average of 8.7 million viewers, Cleveland marked as the No. 2 market, trailing only Columbus (8.8 million viewers).
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