MusicCityNashville.net: The NFL Draft Was a Most Memorable Experience in Music City

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The NFL Draft Was a Most Memorable Experience in Music City

by Rich and Laura Lynch

The 2019 NFL Draft is in the books and has set new records in media consumption and fan attendance. With a combined 3.9 HH TV rating and average of 6.1M viewers across NFL, ESPN and ABC TV and digital channels, the 2019 NFL Draft is the highest-rated and most-watched Draft ever, breaking records established just a year ago. In total across Nielsen-measured channels, all NFL Draft telecasts combined to reach more than 47.5 million viewers over the three-day event, up +5% vs. 2018.

The NFL Draft Was a Most Memorable Experience in Music City

The 2019 NFL Draft was truly something to experience In Nashville.

But, it was those on the ground in Music City who really made the difference and for those who attended in person it was an experience that they will never forget for both the excitement of the three-day, multi-round draft and the hands-on celebration of American Football known as the NFL Experience.

The pedestrian bridge that crosses the Cumberland River received record traffic over three days.

In addition to media consumption, the 2019 NFL Draft shattered records for attendance as over 600,000 fans filled the streets of Nashville to celebrate the newest class of NFL rookies, easily establishing a new record (250k in 2017 - Philadelphia). Many of those in Nashville not attending the NFL Draft in-person were watching from home, as the market delivered a combined for a 10.6 HH rating - up +104% versus Nashville last year, and up +74% versus the 2018 host city.

Fans support their teams at the 2019 NFL Draft.

"The 2019 NFL Draft was a tremendous continuation of the celebration of the NFL's 100th season and an opportunity to welcome the next generation of stars," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "Dramatic and emotional storylines played out in cities across the country with the energetic host city of Nashville serving as a breathtaking backdrop to hundreds of thousands of passionate fans who lined the streets and enjoyed a unique NFL Draft Experience. We congratulate our newest players and their families and thank the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., the City of Nashville, the volunteers, and everyone who made the Draft such a memorable, entertaining, and successful experience."

Scenes like this one won't be soon forgotten by attendees of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft Experience Presented by Oikos Triple Zero, invited families and fans of all ages to enjoy a FREE admission, three-day football festival held in the plazas directly across the river outside of Nissan Stadium from Thursday, April 25 - Saturday, April 27. Fans of all ages and teams were able to participate in interactive exhibits, immersive games, virtual reality experiences, free player autograph sessions and so much more!

Global Gridiron? American Football has grown in popularity worldwide thanks to the NFL.

While the team from Music City Nashville enjoyed a few of the activities such as standing with the coveted Lombardi Trophy that is presented every year to the Super Bowl Champion, and posing for our very own football themed photograph card courtesy of trading card manufacturer Panini - there were so many activities that we couldn't get to them all.

Vikings fans marched on Music City.

More interactive favorites that drew long lines over the three days were the Combine Corner with - Vertical Jump FMP: Jump as high as you can and hit the corresponding flag to discover your vertical reach just like at the NFL Scouting Combine. 40-Yard Dash FMP - Race down the field against your opponents and digital NFL players on a giant 40-yard long LED wall!

The NFL has headquarters in New York and a new home in Nashville.

Other activities were described as: FedEx Air Challenge FMP - How do your quarterback skills stack up against the best? Find out by testing your passing accuracy on specially designed targets. Field Goal Kick presented by Oikos Triple Zero FMP - Test your ability to kick a field goal through NFL uprights. Hail Mary also presented by Oikos Triple Zero FMP - Test your long-distance accuracy by throwing a deep pass over defenders into a drop-in net.

The Titans Cheerleaders were sighted outside of Nissan Stadium.

For those wanting to look and maybe not touch there was an impressive pop-up NFL Museum on site that included a full collection of 52 Super Bowl rings; Hall of Fame Bronze Busts; George S. Halas NFC Championship Trophy; Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy; NFL Auction FMP and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. There was much more to experience at the 2019 NFL Draft and as the event moves to Las Vegas in 2020 we'll have to wait and see if Nevada can strip Tennessee of its best host city ever title it so deservedly earned this year.