SALT LAKE CITY — The NFL will modify its 2020 NFL draft plans due to health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league announced Monday morning that the draft will still take place April 23-25 and the selection process will be televised. The NFL will be “exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available.”
Public events in Las Vegas for this year’s draft, however, will not take place. This would have been the first time the city hosted the event.
“This decision reflects our foremost priority — the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the city of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”
The Raiders, who moved to Las Vegas this offseason and will play their first season in the city in 2020, also released a statement.
“After careful consideration, the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFL, the NFLPA and the LVCVA have decided to cancel the 2020 Las Vegas NFL draft celebration. Health and safety has always been our top priority, so despite it being a major disappointment, this was the right decision,” the statement read. “I would like to thank (Nevada) Gov. (Steve) Sisolak and the LVCVA for all of the passion they put into creating an event that would have been second to none.
“Although Las Vegas lost this chance to shine, there will be many more opportunities to show the world just what Las Vegas is made of. Whether it be the draft, the Pro Bowl or the Super Bowl, the sports and entertainment capital of the world is ready!”