SPORTS

Lions president open to hosting NFL draft

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Taylor Decker holds up a Lions jersey with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked in the first round of the 2016 draft at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre.

Allen Park – Much like the Super Bowl, the NFL draft is on the verge of becoming a traveling event. After a five-decade run in New York City, concluding with a nine-year stint at the Radio City Music Hall, the draft has been held at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre the past two years.

Just don’t expect the 2017 version to be conducted in the Windy City. After months of speculation, reports are coming out that Philadelphia will be named the host for next year. The league’s first draft, in 1936, was held in the city, but the last time the event took place in Philly was 1961.

Already, other cities are making bids for future drafts. Dallas has made a pitch for 2018, while Denver, home of the Super Bowl 50 champion Broncos, has its sights set on 2019.

Lions team president Rod Wood admitted he isn’t aware of the bidding process, and hasn’t formerly expressed interest in hosting the annual event, but it’s something he’d like to explore.

“I’d love to do it,” Wood said.  “I’ve not heard about how they’re going to open that process up to bidding, or people just bidding on their own, or requesting an opportunity to do it on their own. But I’ve not yet expressed an interest on behalf of the team.”

Detroit has never hosted an NFL draft.

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