This press release came while I was in the car and unfortunately, I could not get to a place that had wireless until late. So here’s the official word from the National Football League that next year’s Draft will span three days with the first round happening on a Thursday night and ending on a Saturday.
Take a look.
NFL DRAFT TO KICK OFF IN PRIME TIME IN 2010
First Round Starts at 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, April 22
Draft to Expand to Three Days for First Time
The NFL Draft will kick off in prime time for the first time in 2010, it was announced today. The first round of the 2010 NFL Draft will start on Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 PM ET with the second and third rounds on Friday, April 23 at 6:30 PM ET followed by rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 24 at 10:00 AM ET.
The draft will continue to be televised by ESPN and NFL Network. The 2010 NFL Draft – the 75th draft in NFL history – will again be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
“We continue to look for ways to make the draft more accessible to more fans,” said Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television.”
The 2009 NFL Draft (Saturday, April 25-Sunday, April 26) drew a record 39 million viewers on NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2. Total NFL Draft viewership increased 66 percent from 2001 to 2009 (from 23.5 million to 39 million).
The first round of last year’s draft on ESPN and NFL Network drew a combined average of 6.3 million viewers, topping all basketball, hockey and baseball games that weekend.
The NFL Draft was a Saturday-Sunday event from 1995-2009. It took place on Sunday-Monday from 1988-94 and prior to 1988 was held on one or two weekdays.
Following is a date and time breakdown of the 2010 NFL Draft:
2010 NFL Draft
Date
Time*
Round 1
Thursday, April 22
7:30-11:00 PM ET
Rounds 2-3
Friday, April 23
6:30-11:00 PM ET
Rounds 4-7
Saturday, April 24
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET
* end times approximate
I would rather see the NFL go Friday through Sunday to get full weekend coverage, but I’m not the Commish to make that decision.
