NFL executive thanks KC for hosting Draft, says attendance slightly exceeded projection
During ABC’s coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station, ESPN’s Rece Davis marveled at the turnout in Kansas City on Friday night.
“What a scene,” Davis said. “What a red carpet Kansas City has rolled out.”
Rich Eisen of the NFL Network also took note of the huge turnout as a camera showed the “mass of humanity.”
Another ESPN broadcaster said at one point he couldn’t hear himself think because Chiefs fans were so loud.
On the first day of the draft, the North Lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial reached capacity of 60,000.
That was merely the start of a big weekend of fans for the draft. Brian McCarthy, Vice President of Communications for the NFL, said the NFL Draft in Kansas City drew 312,000 fans.
McCarthy shared that number in a Twitter message in which he expressed his gratitude to Kansas City for being a great host of the NFL Draft.
“Thank you Kansas City,” McCarthy wrote. “What a Draft celebration. 312k fans on hand over the three days. Onto the 2023 season.”
That figure of 312,000 slightly exceeded a pre-draft estimate from Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and VisitKC. Nelson had put the estimate at 300,000 attendees.
