Chicago to host 2015 NFL draft, which leaves New York for first time since 1965
New York has officially lost the 2015 NFL draft: It will be held in Chicago on April 30-May 2.
The league announced Thursday night that the draft will be held at Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. It has a capacity of 3,929 seats.
The Auditorium Theatre, which is 125 years old, is located in downtown Chicago, and has hosted operas, concerts by Frank Sinatra, Stveie Wonder and Elton John, among others, musicals, ballets and speeches by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKiney.
Los Angeles, which offered to host the draft at the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held, was the other finalist.
New York eliminated itself due to Radio City Music Hall not being available in April or May. New York had been the home to the draft since 1965, and it's been at Radio City, a site the league loves because of how appealing it looks on television, since 2006. The selection of Chicago is just for 2015 and New York will be in the running to bring the draft back in 2016 if Radio City or another suitable venue is available.
The draft will be held one week earlier than last year, when it was pushed back two weeks to accommodate Radio City, but one week later than what had been its usual slot in late April. The draft was previously held in Chicago in 1938, 1942-44, 1951 and 1962-64.
'We are excited to have fans from throughout the Midwest experience the NFL Draft,' commissioner Roger Goodell said.
The NFL for the first time will have a fan festival during the draft. It will be held across the street from the Auditorium Theatre in Congress Plaza and Grant Park both during the day from April 30-May 2 and also while the draft is going on that Thursday and Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Large screen televisions will be set up in the park so fans can watch the draft.
'There is no question that New York provides a level of media exposure that would be hard to replicate elsewhere,' a source said in April. 'At the same time, there is a question whether Radio City can remain a long-term host for the event because they are developing new shows and new things all the time.'
When Radio City officially informed the NFL that the venue was being used for a spring show in 2015, none of the alternatives presented in New York was attractive enough to keep the draft here.
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