Las Vegas relies on NFL draft spirit

Las Vegas is poised to host its first NFL draft — and the city is getting into the NFL spirit with the support of its hometown team, the Las Vegas Raiders.

The coronavirus pandemic has put countless events on hold, including a 2020 NFL draft that was scheduled to be played in Las Vegas.

Now, draft day has finally arrived in Las Vegas, and the flamboyant city spared no detail or expense to show its NFL pride. Vegas landmarks wore Raiders gear, while the statue outside of Caesar’s Palace is now clad in NFL draft gear.

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No city makes the NFL Draft quite like Vegas

For 60 years, the NFL Draft was held exclusively in New York City, but the league has since opened up to cities to bid to become future draft sites.

According to The New York Times, “Chicago, Philadelphia, Nashville, Dallas and Cleveland hosted the event, which will be held in 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.” next year belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders this year.

The Vegas Draft is also helping to solidify the city’s reputation as a growing sports-entertainment capital. Las Vegas has become a hub of the UFC universe due to the location of the famous Octagon in the area.

Boxing and fighting matches make sense for a city known for gambling opportunities, but Las Vegas is fast becoming a hotspot for NFL activity. The Raiders will find a new home in the gleaming Allegiant Stadium, which hosted the 2021 Pro Bowl. Allegiant Stadium was also chosen to host the 2024 Super Bowl. So if the Raiders make the big game in two years, they could be the third NFL team in history to play a Super Bowl game at home.

Considering the last two teams to play Super Bowls at home have both won, 2024 could perhaps be a lucky year for the Las Vegas Raiders — and that luck in Vegas could rub off on the draftees as they look to starters waiting for their NFL career.