Ohio Senators Support Cleveland-Canton Bid to Host NFL Draft

Original Article posted in The Canton Repository on March 22, 2018

Ohio’s Republican and Democratic U.S. senators have found an issue to agree on: Cleveland and Canton should host the NFL Draft in 2019 or 2020.

U.S. senators Rob Portman, a Republican, and Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, penned a joint letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to bring the draft here.

“These two cities, along with the state of Ohio, offer excellent economic and historical opportunities, as well as the necessary experience to host the NFL Draft,” the letter reads. “We believe the Cleveland/Canton bid is second to none, and we urge you to give their bid your full consideration.”

In the letter, the senators highlight the region’s experience hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention, the 2014 Gay Games and the Hall’s annual enshrinement festival.

They also mention the state’s “rich football history worth celebrating,” noting the league’s origins in Canton and the NFL Players Association’s roots in Cleveland.

Canton and Cleveland — through a partnership among the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Cleveland Browns — is one of five finalists in the running to host the draft in 2019 or 2020. The others are Kansas City, Nashville, Denver and Las Vegas.

An announcement is expected during the league’s spring owners meeting May 21 to 23.