The Siberian American: Our Chicago NFL Draft Town Experience 2016

Monday, May 2, 2016

Our Chicago NFL Draft Town Experience 2016

Chris got home early on Friday, so we decided to walk over to Grant Park to take in the NFL Draft Town Fan Festival. Honestly, I thought we would spend a short time there, but we ended up loving the experience.


Draft Town was way larger than we expected with activities for both kids and adults. I thought the area where kids (and quite a few adults) could go through the drills part of the NFL Combine was a great idea.


My favorite part of Draft Town was the Selection Square. There, you could stand and cheer as your team made its selections. Below the fan area was the section where team representatives made their selections. The selections were made on a piece of paper, and runners would then inform NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell of the selection. I thought it was interesting to learn more about the process. I had no idea the team representative and Goodell weren’t in the same building! I also loved how the Buckingham Fountain would change to the color of the team selecting when the pick was in.


After hanging out in the Selection Square for several picks, we headed over to take a photo with the Vince Lombardi trophy.


Of course, we also had to check out the college football section, which featured a bunch of memorabilia and uniforms. I really liked the sideline coat from the University of Chicago Maroons, a founding member of the Big Ten, and Jay Berwanger’s Heisman trophy. Berwanger was the first Heisman trophy winner and the first pick in the first NFL draft. I was surprised to find a Baylor uniform in a room mostly full of Big Ten teams.


One of the surprising things about Draft Town was the cheap food! We were shocked to see a burger for $5, which is a rare find here in Chicago. As we were heading home, I loved seeing all the building lit up to celebrate the draft. I thought the city really embraced the NFL Draft and made it a fun event for the fans.


16 comments:

  1. I thought about checking it out, but the weather wasn't motivating for me. Glad you two had fun!

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    1. We were so glad we decided to go on Friday night because there was no way we were going to go during those downpours on Saturday!

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  2. That's so neat! I had no idea any of that happened in Chicago! What a unique festival and experience to be a part of!!

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  3. It's always so much fun when something big and exciting is going on in the city! That's so cool that they let you run some of the drills that they players run in the Combine and that you found a Baylor uniform! I had no idea that the draft was going on in two different spots either! You would think that all of that would be happening in the same room!

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  4. That's so cool that the fountain would change colors like that! And the buildings all decked out---who knew it was like that?! Not me...

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  5. Love the last minute things you guys are getting to enjoy before leaving! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  6. How cool! I didn't know Chicago did any of this! I love it!

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  7. How fun, I didn't think it was going to be that fun, but now regret not making it out there.

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  8. Wow those lights in the buildings- amazing! I'm so obsessed with photographing city architecture I would've been ALL about that

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  9. So much fun! I had no idea there were events like this for the draft!
    Green Fashionista

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  10. mmmm now i want a burger. $5 or not. haha.
    honestly i had no idea there were things like this, it looks super cool. it doesn't seem like something i would pick to do or enjoy myself, but i know kc would, which makes me think i would. plus, food.

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  11. Shows how much I know about football. I didn't even know the draft was in Chicago this year! I bet it was really fun to go and hang out even for non football fans!

    Ashley
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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