The NFL has cancelled public events in Las Vegas for next month’s draft, making the decision in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to an announcement from the league on Monday, the actual draft selection process will take place on schedule from April 23-25. However, the NFL is cancelling all associated public events that were previously scheduled to take place in Las Vegas over that period.
The draft selection process will be televised, with the NFL saying it is “exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available. “
“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a press statement. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”
As of last week, the NFL’s plans for next month were still on schedule, but the coronavirus crisis was already affecting the way some organizations planned for the draft. However, the response to the pandemic has very much evolved over the last few days, with the CDC issuing a revised set of guidelines on Sunday that included a recommendation to cancel gatherings of 50 or more people over the next eight weeks.
Rendering of NFL Draft event in Las Vegas courtesy NFL.
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