Kansas City will be hosting the NFL 2023 draft from April 27-29 at the National WWl museum located at Union Station. This will be the first time the NFL draft has ever been hosted in Kansas City!
Kathy Nelson, the president, and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission brought the NFL Draft to KC. Nelson, a former veteran TV journalist who moved to the Kansas City nonprofit in 2010, has helped spearhead some of the city’s most prominent sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026. Nelson has also successfully hosted multiple NCAA events and has kept the Big 12 (conference basketball tournament) in Kansas City.
Kansas City is hosting the 2023 NFL Draft sponsored by Budweiser | Courtesy of the NFL
Nelson is bringing major events to the town that many have not seen. Only eight cities have hosted the NFL draft since it was first established in 1936. In more recent years, Las Vegas held the draft in 2022, Cleveland in 2021, and 2020’s draft was held virtually due to Covid-19.
Kansas City will be the seventh rotation location since the NFL began hosting the draft in different cities. Rotating the location of the NFL draft has been rewarding to designated cities and the NFL.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the 2023 NFL Draft Being Hosted in Kansas City
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell anticipates the 2023 Draft in Kansas City and shows excitement toward the event. “Great barbecue,” he said Wednesday during his annual Super Bowl news conference, which was held at the Phoenix Convention Center. “Kansas City is going to be a great host,” he said. “The key for them is to do it Kansas City style. Kansas City has incredible, passionate fans and a great community.”
Goodell speaks of the infamous barbeque and the enormous amounts of love the fans have for not only the Kansas City Chiefs but the NFL as well. He expects to see passionate fans, a great community, and devotion to the Nation Football League.
Kansas City Chiefs on screen during the 2022 NFL Draft | Photo sourced from USA Today
Fans will be allowed on the North Lawn of the WWI Museum and Memorial on a first-come-first-served basis. It is a standing room only. The NFL will begin building the structure at the end of March and it will be built over five weeks. There will be big screens to see the event from several locations along with a Kansas City Chiefs activation where fans will be able to interact with cheerleaders and receive autographs from players to be named later.
Fans will also be able to take pictures with the Chiefs’ three Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl Rings as well as the rest of the 32 teams in the league. The schedule of appearances and ticket sales will only be announced in the NFL OnePass app.
Many businesses will be prepared to run as usual with an influx of people from all over the states. Local businesses have increased staffing and organized meetings and programs to prepare for this big opportunity. “It’s a parade all day long for three days,” said Kathy Nelson. Fans can definitely expect Super Bowl type parade behavior and celebration for the 2023 NFL draft.
