‘The NFL’s football theme park:’ Check out fan festival plans for Kansas City’s draft
The NFL Draft is coming to Kansas City in less than a month, and beyond the actual draft, there will be a full slate of events, activities and exhibits for fans to check out at the National WWI Museum and Memorial from Thursday, April 27 until Saturday, April 29 called the NFL Draft Experience.
The league is dubbing the fan festival “the NFL’s football theme park.”
This year’s NFL draft will be the league’s 88th annual three-day meeting to decide which promising athletes will score a spot on a national team. Fans from all over the country will be flocking to Kansas City to get in on the excitement surrounding the highly anticipated rounds of picks.
“It’s historic, it’s iconic, and it’s a chance to reinforce that Kansas City is not fly-over country. We are a sports destination,” said Elliot Scott, a spokesperson for Kansas City’s Sports Commission. “I would encourage everyone, not just NFL lovers or Chiefs’ lovers to come out.”
The NFL Draft Experience festival will be open from noon to 10 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday on the south side of the museum.
Fans will get an up-close look at exhibits including all 56 Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, photo and autograph opportunities and a chance to show off their own skills, according to the NFL.
The festival is free to the public, but guests will need to register here or download the NFL OnePass app in order to participate.
“It’s so much more than the business meeting of the NFL draft. It truly is a festival for football lovers,” Scott said.
What activities and games will be going on for fans at the NFL Draft?
For amateurs who want to show off their own strength, there will be games and skill tests ranging from a 40-yard dash to field goal kicks. All guests will need to be registered for the event in order to participate.
There will also be a play zone where kids can try on professional football equipment, play flag football and learn from professional coaches and players about the art of the game.
For kids who really want to get advice on their game, there will be daily clinics from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
What other attractions will be at the NFL Draft?
Folks who love the game but don’t want to get onto the field will be able to meet past and present NFL players at an autograph station and check out an abundance of photo opportunities.
There will be a replica of the draft stage so people take the stage like the pros, as well as life-size body molds of star players that people can step inside and compare themselves to. There will also be a replica of an NFL locker room, so guests can see how players get ready for game day.
Other fun features will include 32 giant helmets for each NFL team, an exhibit of all 56 Super Bowl Rings and the Kansas City Chiefs’ three Vince Lombardi trophies.
To see a full line-up of events and exhibits, visit the NFL’s site here.
Will there be security at the NFL Draft?
People who are interested in attending the NFL Draft Experience festival event should be mindful of a few security precautions.
Any clear bags brought into the event need to be smaller than 12x12x6, which is around the size of a typical reusable tote bag.
Regular small clutches and purses are permissible but will need to be screened.
Strollers are allowed but any excess bags and blankets will have to be screened.
Empty reusable water bottles are allowed
There are also a number of prohibited items, including:
Pets (except service animals)
Alcohol
Weapons, including guns, knives, pepper spray and explosives
Laser pointers
Inflatable toys and devices
Any illegal substances
Bottles, coolers, aerosol cans, cups and containers
Noisemakers
Drones
Tripods
To see a full list of prohibited items and other security measures to expect, visit here.
This story was originally published March 29, 2023 at 7:00 AM.