Philadelphia Set to Host 2017 NFL Draft

The City of Brotherly Love could soon become host to the NFL’s annual boo-fest, following reports that Philadelphia will be the site of the 2017 NFL Draft. After a fifty-year streak of holding the event in New York’s Radio City Music Hall, the draft was moved to Chicago for the past two seasons and is now set to continue its nationwide tour.

According to New Jersey Advance Media, two sources independent of the NFL have informed the site that the league will announce Philly as the next host on either August 2 or August 8.

If any more proof is needed, just check out the specifics of the event being laid out by U.S. Congressman Bob Brady. “The NFL wanted to come here, which is a good start,” he told the Philadelphia Enquirer.

“They are going to do it out in the open on the Parkway for three days. They are going to build a stage, and I’m sure they are going to put up some type of enclosure in case it rains. But that’s what the NFL wanted. They wanted to come here and do that so we just had to guarantee them money.”

Rumours continue to swirl that the league does not intend to keep holding the draft in new locations, but instead give it a permanent home in the new Los Angeles stadium, home to the Rams as early as 2018.

In the meantime, the furore and anticipation of the draft – now arguably the most hyped event of any professional league offseason – will entertain the rabid football fans of Philly.

Last year in Chicago, the Bears enjoyed a massive cheer for their selection while the Packers were just about booed out of the building. Eagles fans aren’t exactly known for sitting on their hands either, so expect mighty jeers for, in no particular order, the Giants, the Redskins, the Cowboys, the Patriots (victors in the Eagles’ most recent Super Bowl appearance), the cross-town rival Steelers (who share a home with the despised Stanley Cup champion Penguins) and, of course, Roger Goodell.

As for the Eagles? The home fans may have to wait until day two to welcome a new rookie to the team, after Philadelphia traded its 2017 first-round pick for a chance to move up and snag Carson Wentz in April.