For the first time, the NFL Draft will be held in May. The NFL is citing a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music City, the home of the Draft, however, the league has been wanting to move the draft to May for quite some time. Not only is May a month later, but it’s also an important ratings period for advertisers, so ESPN and NFL Network can charge more for advertising.
In addition, the NFL wants to move its seasonal calendar later, however, this particular move of the Draft will not affect the 2014 calendar.
The league says there has not been a decision about the 2015 Draft and beyond.
Here’s the NFL announcement.
2014 NFL DRAFT TO BE HELD MAY 8-10 AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL IN NEW YORK
NFL teams were notified today that, due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, the 2014 NFL Draft will be held on May 8-10 in New York at Radio City.
The decision was made after discussions with club personnel and key NFL business partners. No decision has been made regarding the dates of the NFL Draft in 2015 and beyond. A variety of alternatives are being explored, teams were told, including holding the draft at Radio City or at other locations, either in the New York area or in other cities.
The NFL clubs also were informed that there would be no significant changes in the dates of other off-season events next year:
- Several Regional Combines will be held on various dates from January 24 through February 16, 2014. Some Regional Combines may be held after the National Combine in Indianapolis.
- The National Combine in Indianapolis will be held from February 18-25, 2014.
- The new League Year, and the Free Agency period, will begin on March 11, 2014.
- The Annual Meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida, on March 23-26, 2014.
The change in the date of the 2014 Draft will have no effect on when rookies may begin to report to their clubs, the dates of off-season programs, or the length of off-season programs. Clubs will have available to them the same number of practice days that they currently have and no changes in the off-season calendar are being considered that would reduce the number of practice days or the overall length of the off-season program. At this time, changes are not anticipated in the off-season calendar for 2015 and beyond that would reduce the number of practice days or otherwise limit the off-season program.
We’ll find out more about future drafts when the time comes.
