Where to start… First! Welcome to BC Time-Out! My goal is to share my thoughts and ideas on Sports, Travel, and Automotive items. Recently I was allowed to attend the NFL draft as media, and I want to share that experience with you. I will also write additional articles based on my adventures while in Vegas for the draft and my thoughts on how my two Ohio teams faired.
Now, I landed in Las Vegas early on Wednesday, the day before the draft started. Luckily I have a friend who works in a local casino, and he came and picked me up from the Airport, which was clean and sleek inside and out. It flowed well; it was easy to depart the plane and travel past the first set of slot machines. I would see and pick up my luggage before strolling out into the warm desert air and diving quickly into my friend’s car, then cranking the A/C.
We ventured over to the Linq, where media were afforded a discounted rate, and enjoyed a massive brunch at Hash House A Go Go before paying to check into my room early. After, I went and secured my media access pass for the event. I then explored Vegas (Which I will cover in other posts) before calling it an early night.
I woke at the crack of dawn full of excitement and walked to the NFL Draft area at Ceasars. I’m glad I did. Media personnel was already filling in. While I did look like a grinning child the morning of Christmas, just excited to be there, you can definitely tell that some personnel may have worn themselves thin being reporters for such a long time.
I settled in, set up my equipment, and then explored the massive compound that the NFL had secured from Ceasars. There was the media area, a huge stage, an area for the die-hard fans that teams had invited, multiple booths for fans to check out that advertised other businesses, a picture booth that made you into a sports card, autograph and picture areas, a smaller football field setup for exhibitions, and children’s teams to put on a show.
The first day was massive, and the excitement filled the air as the afternoon approached. Even the die-hard media personnel were getting amped to see who would go first, making last-minute wagers, mock picks, and arguing over what team should draft who. I felt like I was on the New York stock exchange floor and drank in the moment while quickly introducing myself to as many people as possible, taking advantage of networking, and having my share of debates on players that I favored. Hint… Im an Ohio guy through and through.
I will spare you a draft-by-draft detail of the day, but I was thrilled to see two Ohio state WRs get drafted in the first round. Garrett Wilson went to the Jets at 10, and Chris Olave went to the Saints at number 11. I was able to get into the media de-briefing room. It is an intense moment for these young men. Their whole lives have just changed, and they have just achieved something they had only dreamed about. Now they are in the NFL! It was nice to sit on the side and drink in the moment vicariously. I watched the realization on their faces and the impact of what was happening around them. Plus, it was cool to get an O-H & I-O callback from Olave.
I firmly believe both these players will have impactful careers in the NFL.
The rest of the day was fast-paced as each pick continued to drop. I endeavored to live tweet, keep up with each selection, and tried to go to the media de-brief rooms. I found this complicated being BC Time-Out’s sole reporter. After the final pick of day one. I ventured outside into the evening air to see Weezer taking the stage. Weezer put on a hell of a show. They played many of their classics, even covering “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. It was fun to hear their version. Once the speaker’s reverberation came to a halt, I decided to head out to Freemont to take in more of the night.
Day two of the draft was different. About half the media showed up. The atmosphere was more relaxed, and the tension was pulled from the air. The picks flew fast and quick, but there weren’t any players to interview. It was still fun, and the NFL ensured the media were well fed with some of the best snacks and treats I’ve ever managed to get for free. I managed to do more networking, and people were willing to talk and chat more in a more chill environment. I did stay for the entire day and even saw Ice Cube put on his concert after the show. Can’t beat Seeing Cube rap “Friday”…on a Friday!
The third day was even more interesting because even fewer media showed up. I’m talking maybe 20 compared to the 200 that were there the first day. Even on the third day, the NFL was doing its best to entertain fans and maximize the Vegas experience. I took advantage of this and utilized the time to go and visit with fans, check out all the side attractions on-site, and spotted Marshawn Lynch taking pictures with fans. We should note his time had run out, but Mr. Lynch requested to stay longer, ensuring anyone who had waited in the hot sun had the chance to get their picture with him. The grand finale of the draft on day three was to be capped off with a concert by Marshmello. I caught a little bit of his show, but I wanted to take advantage of being in Vegas and rushed out to conquer the night.
Overall this was a fantastic experience. Las Vegas is where the draft should be held every year. I say this after never having been to any other draft. It’s Las Vegas, though; how could I be wrong? On a serious note, I think this is an excellent way to kick off our blog and to begin to report more and dive deeper into my thoughts on how the Browns and Bengals fared. So keep checking the blog for updates, and I will post more content as soon as possible!
