Jerry Jones runs the NFL, so regardless of the show Philadelphia put on in hosting the 2017 NFL Draft, the show will reportedly hit the road again next spring. According to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, the Dallas Cowboys are the leading candidate to host the 2018 NFL Draft.
Despite some looming logistical and financial hurdles, the Cowboys’ bid is the leading candidate to host the event, two NFL sources told Yahoo Sports. The sources added that the process of naming a 2018 host has been slowed by the two-venue pitch of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is aiming to split the festivities between AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and the Cowboys’ multibillion-dollar training facility in Frisco. The training facility is located about 40 miles north of the stadium, creating additional financial considerations for the league and its broadcasting partners such as ESPN.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had previously listed 14 cities including the Dallas area, as possible host sites, with all 14 sending reps to Philadelphia.
“[The two-venue bid] was an outside the box idea,” one league source said. “It’s definitely different. But just from the stance of how you put it together and the costs, you’re doubling up on some of the costs and just the sheer logistics of creating two draft sites. It’s a little more complicated, so [the NFL has] to sort through that.”
Jones said during this year’s draft that he has a “dream” to host himself, but who’s really supposed to drive or travel over 40 miles for an NFL Fan Experience in two different venues?
