Chi-Town is Draft Town April 30 – May 2
Chi-Town is Draft Town April 30 – May 2. Chicago has the honor of hosting the 2015 NFL Draft. The Draft is returning to Chicago after more than 50 years and this year is all about the fans. Chicago’s Grant Park will be converted into Draft Town, a FREE 3-day festival dedicated to football fans and families. Fans will enjoy live music, a variety of entertainment, food, a Super Bowl Museum, NFL Play 60 clinics for the kids, and an opportunity to see all 32 NFL teams like never before.
Chicago is inviting football fans to experience the “reimagined” 80th NFL Draft from Thursday, April 30 – Saturday, May 2 in Chicago”
If you are a sports fan, there is no better time to visit Chicago than now”
Directly across the street from the Roosevelt Auditorium Theatre (where the Draft is being held) will be a free outdoor fan festival called Draft Town
A three-day 900,000 square foot, outdoor interactive and immersive fan festival experience unlike anything in NFL history
There will be flag football competitions, musical entertainment, autographs sessions with NFL Stars and so much more and it is going to be completely free and entirely family friendly.
It’s a great reason to get out of the house and visit Chicago with the kids
The Draft Town fan experiences include:
• “Selection Square”, an area that will serve as the epicenter of the Draft and will feature all 32 NFL team tables where representatives from each team will make their Draft selections throughout the three days.Upon each selection, Draft picks in attendance will be featured outside in Selection Square for interviews in front of the crowd.
• Sweetness Simulator – a wind tunnel skydive simulator that floats fans into the air where they can strike a football pose like Walter Payton jumping over a linebacker.
• Run Like the Wind – where fans will be able to test their speed by running the 40-yard dash alongside a giant LED screen featuring NFL stars
• NFL PLAY 60 Field – The NFL and USA Football will host private youth football clinics to teach youth about the importance of getting active and playing for 60 minutes a day. Public clinics are open to boys and girls ages 6-14 on a first-come, first-served basis.
• NFL FLAG Festival – A large-scale flag football tournament for youth and adults played all day Saturday, May 2.
• Super Bowl Museum – that will have the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Super Bowl rings and the AFC and NFC Conference Championship trophies on display and so much more.
• Chi-Chefs Kitchen – will feature food from some of Chicago’s best restaurants and chefs in a tailgate setting.
• AFC & NFC Team Houses – so all 32 NFL teams will have a home at Draft Town which will serve as ultimate fan caves providing a place for fans to hang out with unique team content and memorabilia.
Everything will culminate on Saturday night with a huge concert to close out the Draft Town festivities.
Draft Town hours of operation are Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 from 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft will be held at Chicago’s Roosevelt Auditorium Theatre on Thursday, April 30 at 6pm EST / 5pm CST (lottery process for obtaining free tickets ended April 5)
Round 1 will begin with NFL prospects walking the red carpet on Michigan Avenue before heading into the theatre for the start of the Draft.
Draft was last held in Chicago in 1964 (51 years ago)
During the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Draft, Grant Park’s famous Buckingham Fountain will be lit up in the colors of the team that is on the clock
Check ChooseChicago.com/2015NFLDraft for updates and more information.
SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY CHOOSE CHICAGO