The NFL Draft:  Was it Always a Circus?

As the NFL Draft draws near, the City of Pittsburgh is preparing to welcome 600,000 to 700,000 visitors. In addition to polishing bridges, greasing the inclines, and rolling out the red carpet, or terrible towel, officials have switched schools to remote learning to make room for the throng of football fans. Local businesses are bracing for a wave of tourism bringing an expected $120,000-$200,000 million to the city.

Thinking of attending? You can register for FREE draft event passes. However, this does not include seating inside the venue. For an up-close look, expect to pay $700–$2,000/pp for theater packages good for rounds 2 or 3. If you are looking for a first-round experience- including the red carpet, prices start at $3,000 and exceed $15,000 for exclusive VIP packages.

Now, the question becomes, “Why?” This is the draft. No one is playing- it’s a room full of potential college dropouts and mothers waiting to hear their name. Alright, the draft is a bit more complex, but this was not always the case.

The NFL Draft How it Started

1936 – The first draft took place on February 8th at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. It was a closed-door event with nine rounds. The draft started with the goal of ensuring all teams have a fair shot at talented college players. Teams with the worst records would choose players first.

1939- The NFL Draft expands to 20 rounds, but it remains a private event held in hotel ballrooms.

1967- The merger of the AFL and NFL led to the first common draft, but the format was largely the same.

1977- The NFL trimmed the number of rounds to 12, speeding the process.

1980- The draft came out of the backrooms and into our living rooms as ESPN first broadcasts the event.

1984- The father of today’s draft culture, Mel Kiper Jr. joins ESPN. He popularizes mock drafts and analysis, bringing fans another layer of draft experience.

1994- The NFL cut the draft almost in half as seven rounds replaced the 12-round format.

1995- The NFL moves the event to a theater at Madison Square Garden. This begins the shift towards larger venues.

2006- Move over Rockettes, there’s a new draw in town. The NFL exponentially increased draft viewership shifting to Radio City Music Hall in New York as their venue.

2010- The draft changes to a three-day format.

2015- The NFL takes the show on the road to Chicago. This marks the beginning of the highly profitable traveling circus era. Cities create atmospheres on par with Super Bowl events.

2020- The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the draft into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement. The virtual draft gave fans a peek inside the homes of coaches, GM’s, and a few owners. Goodell announced the picks from his basement, keeping fans, players, and league leadership safe from the virus.

2021 and beyond- Once the draft resumed live events, host cities like Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, and Green Bay saw hundreds of thousands of fans pack the venues. In 2025, Green Bay was mobbed by over 600,000 fans.

The Scouting Combine

Any discussion of the draft is incomplete without mention of the NFL Scouting Combine. The fervor of the NFL Draft spills over into the yearly event. This four-day event is by invitation only and takes place in Indianapolis, IN. All 32 teams can send staff to evaluate college prospects ahead of the draft. While the event began in 1982, it gained traction in 2004 when the newly minted NFL Network began televising the combine.

It’s tough to say what the next big thing is when it comes to the draft. It’s worth noting that the league continues looking towards potential expansion, testing markets in Europe and South America. The idea of expansion all but guarantees that the NFL will amp up exposure for these events to ensure the draft remains a significant draw for all fans eager to see the season get underway.