By: Kylan Watson

With the first pick in the 2017 National Football League (NFL) draft, the NFL selects Philadelphia, Pa to be the host city for the draft. The last time Philadelphia was selected to host the draft was in 1960.  The draft will take place on the Philadelphia Parkway in front of the historic steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The first edition of the NFL draft was held in Philadelphia in 1936. The NFL Draft  is only adding to the profile of the city who in 2015 hosted Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families, in July the city hosted the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and for the last three years the city has played host to Made in America a concert held on Labor Day created by Jay-Z and Budweiser.

Peter O’Reilly the Senior Vice-President for the NFL said, “This is clearly a very passionate football town, it’s also a city steeped in NFL history,” (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/2017-NFL-Draft-Will-Be-in-Philadelphia-391914121.html, 9-1-16).

The NFL is expecting a big turnout for the draft in 2017 because Philadelphia is very close to the nine other huge markets for the NFL. Last year 200,000 fans attended the 2016 draft in Chicago. The 2017 NFL Draft will be held on April 27th to April 29th, 2017.

The city is expected to raise $5 million dollars through fundraising, but a majority of the cost for the draft will be paid by the NFL.  It will cost an estimated $82 million dollars to host the draft.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said, “It’s a very significant event from individual expenditures. People who come are going to be spending money.” (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/2017-NFL-Draft-Will-Be-in-Philadelphia-391914121.html, 9-1-16).

This is an exciting time not only to be a sports fan, but to be a resident of the city of Philadelphia.