80th Annual NFL Draft

We are less than a week away from the 2015 NFL Draft. This year the event will be hosted in Chicago at Grant Park, Congress Plaza, and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. The NFL as well as Chicago organizers say the event will be a major production that will turn parts of downtown Chicago into professional football's second biggest event of the year.

Photo Credit: NFL

The 900,000-square foot Draft Town, across the street from the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago's Grant Park and Congress Plaza, is a free admission "Town" for fans to come and partake in competitions, meet players, enjoy food, drink and music and buy NFL merchandise.

Photo Credit: Show Me Chicago

Although many spectators are excited for the event, Chicagoans dread for the day when street closings and transportation reroutes take over the city. The city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) announced a series of road closures for the Draft. Traffic around Grant Park and Roosevelt University will be diverted to make way for Draft events April 30 to May 2. OEMC officials encourage residents to allow extra time, expect delays and consider alternate routes to avoid the impact of the event.

Draft Town times and Dates:

Thursday, April 30: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, May 1: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 2: 10 p.m. - 7 p.m. (concert at 8 p.m.)

Free Concert

A free concert featuring American Idol winner and platinum-selling songwriter PHILLIP PHILLIPS will provide a grand finale to the three-day Draft celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park on Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m.

If you are attending the 80th annual NFL Draft leave a comment below or tweet us @Percipia1 and let us know how the event went.