The NFL has decided to make the draft a three day event and has moved round one into primetime.
The NFL is making its already popular draft even more television-friendly, moving the first round to Thursday night. Next year’s draft will switch from a two-day, weekend format to a three-day event with the opening round in prime time for the first time.
The NFL said Thursday that the first round will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on April 22. The second and third rounds will start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, with the last four rounds beginning Saturday morning.
"Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a release.
I don't like this at all. First, let's not kid ourselves that this is for the fans. Of course it's not. It's a money thing. The draft in primetime two days in a row makes more money. Three days of draft brings in more ad dollars than two days does.
But let's not worry about the money aspect. The draft weekend is an event, a tradition. It's something we all look forward to. Even before I started blogging about the Eagles 4 years ago, I still made certain that I'd have that weekend all to myself. It's a special weekend on the NFL calender. Staying up Thursday night after work, then getting home early on Friday evening and spending all night watching rounds two and three? Doesn't sound all that fun... and the 4th through the 7th round all on one day is a pretty boring proposition and I say that as a big fan of the NFL draft. Frankly, the 2nd and 3rd round on their own night will probably struggle to draw much interest from the common fan.
Of course, I'll still watch it(I may even be there again) but I don't like it.