NFL is turning 2015 draft into a party for fansBy John Breech | CBSSports.comMarch 19, 2015 4:58 pm ET 
The NFL is planning a big party for the draft in Chicago. (USATSI) The last time the NFL Draft was held in Chicago, the event took place at a Sheraton Hotel and fans weren't invited. That was in December 1963. This time around, the league has slightly more fan engagement planned. The NFL announced on Thursday that a three-day fan festival will he held at Grant Park during the draft. The league is going to take 900,000 square feet of the park and turn it into a place they're calling Draft Town. And yes, draft town will include draft beer thanks to a Draft Tavern that's being set up by Bud Light. For anyone who doesn't like Bud Light, it appears that the league has plenty of other things planned for the three day event that will run that same three days as the draft (April 30-May 2). So what does the NFL have in store for people in Chicago during the draft?Here's a list of things that Draft Town will include (via NFL.com). •Selection Square -- The central operations of the Draft will take place in Selection Square, located across Michigan Avenue from the Auditorium Theatre. Selection Square will feature all 32 teams, where club representatives will submit their team's player selections throughout the three days of the 2015 NFL Draft.•AFC & NFC Row - The 32 Team Houses are divided into AFC Row and NFC Row and surrounded by food and drink concessions.?Team House (e.g., Bears House) - Each of the 32 NFL clubs has a home at Draft Town -- their Team House. These ultimate fan caves provide a place for fans to gather and engage with unique club content and memorabilia.•Chi-Chefs Kitchen -- This area will feature selections from some of Chicago's best restaurants in a curated taste of the town tailgate for fans to sample and enjoy.•Combine Corner -- Fans can participate in some of the same activities, including the 40-yard dash and vertical jump, that top prospects participated in at the NFL Combine.?Run Like the Wind - Within Combine Corner, fans will have the opportunity to test their speed by running alongside a 40-yard long LED screen featuring NFL stars running the 40-yard dash. Just think, you can go up against Jameis Winston or Tom Brady and probably win!•Greetings from Draft Town -- Fans can choose their favorite Draft-themed background image and take a commemorative photo. They'll be able to share the photo socially live from Draft Town.•NFL PLAY 60 Field -- The NFL and USA Football will host private youth football clinics on the NFL PLAY 60 Field for local schools, as well as public clinics open to all kids in the greater Chicago area. Local coaches and NFL Legends will come together to teach youth about the importance of getting active and playing for 60 minutes a day. Public clinics are open to boys and girls ages 6-14 on a first-come, first-served basis.•NFL PLAY 60 Zone -- The NFL PLAY 60 Zone is a fun, interactive area for kids and families to play together. It includes an obstacle course, mobile app gaming, green screen photo opportunity, player appearances and the famous NFL PLAY 60 Bus.•Super Bowl Museum (Pro Football Hall of Fame display area) - The Super Bowl Museum features historical Bears memorabilia, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Super Bowl rings and the AFC and NFC Conference Championship Trophies.•NFL FLAG Festival - A large-scale flag football tournament for youth and adults played all day Saturday, May 2. To register to play in the tournament, visit nflflagfestival.com.•Family Football Clinic -- On Saturday, May 2 from 9-11 a.m., the NFL and USA Football will host a family football clinic. Open to both kids and parents, this event will give kids an opportunity to participate in a youth football clinic while their parents listen to two football themed discussion panels. The event will conclude with kids and their parents taking the field together to participate side-by-side in Heads Up Football Tackling drills. More information on how to register will be available soon.•Free player autographs •Live television stages•NFL Draft Shop•Social Media Command Center•Wilson Football FactoryDraft Town will probably be your best chance to get anywhere near that actual event. The draft is being held near Grant Park at Roosevelt University's Auditorium Theatre and only a very limited number of tickets will be available to fans. As for Draft Town, you won't need a ticket and entry is free, however, the beer is not. Maybe next year.
