CLEVELAND — The 2021 NFL Draft comes to Cleveland in just a few weeks, and fans who want in on the action can now reserve tickets for events planned for the three-day event.
Tickets to the NFL Draft Experience, the league's interactive football theme park, are now available for reservations on the NFL OnePass app.
While the NFL Draft Experience is free and open to the public during all three days of the Draft, a reservation through the OnePass app is required to attend the park. Walk-ups will not be permitted as capacity limitations due to COVID-19 guidelines are being strictly followed.
Timed tickets will be accessible via the app for all three days of the Draft, with three time slots each day. The scheduled is as follows:
Thursday, April 29
- 12 p.m.- 4 p.m.
- 4 p.m-7 p.m.
- 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, April 30
- 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
- 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, May 1
- 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- 12 p.m.-3 p.m.
- 3 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Session registration will be limited to one session over the three-day period for two adults and up to five minors per transaction. Once a reservation is selected, the tab to reserve tickets on the app appears to be removed from the app, according to fans who have booked their time slot.
The league has not determined a maximum number of fans able to attend the Draft events and is still working with the City of Cleveland and public health authorities to determine that number. Estimations by city leaders were recently in the "tens of thousands."
The NFL said is wants to maximize the number of fans who can safely be a part of the free outdoor event during the Draft and will work to determine the number of fans allowed over the next few weeks.
Fans who will be fully vaccinated by April 15 can also sign up for more information about opportunities to gain access to the NFL Draft Theatre where the Draft stage is. While the league announced the 32 clubs will be inviting select fans into the "Inner Circle" area during the actual Draft, access to the general pubic is not guaranteed—but those who do gain access will be required to be vaccinated and must show proof.
Fans just attending the NFL Draft Experience will not have to be vaccinated, but will be required to wear a mask and follow COVID-19 protocols, including:
- Fans will be required to sign a Health Promise within the NFL OnePass app prior to entering the Draft Experience
- Fans must wear a face covering at all times except when actively eating and/or drinking in the food and beverage consumption zones. Face coverings are defined as masks or other non-vented coverings that cover the nose and mouth. Face shields may not be worn in lieu of a face covering.
- Guests should maintain a physical distance separation of six feet, unless they are family members or in the same household; in which case, the family groups should practice appropriate physical distancing.
- Queue lines for entrance, games, restrooms, concessions, and activities will have physical distancing measures in place to enforce six feet of separation.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers will be available throughout the venues for guest use.
Activities at the Draft Experience include:
- Kicking a field goal on the field of FirstEnergy Stadium
- 40-Yard Dash presented by Castrol
- Bud Light Legends Bar
- NFL Draft Set presented by Rocket Mortgage
- Pepsi NFL Helmet Photo Opportunity
- NFL Draft Photo Frames presented by Panini
- Additional Panini booth where fans can get their own digital trading cards and official NFL trading cards
- Oakley’s interactive O-Lab for fans to test products and vision technologies
- Gatorade activation where fans can pick up complimentary bottles of BOLT24
Additional virtual autograph sessions will be available throughout the three-day event through the NFL OnePass app with an autograph card signed by a player or NFL Legend with personalization. The virtual autograph stage will have a limited capacity and will run daily through all three days of the Draft.
Browns players and Legends will be on site for Chalk Talks with NFL Network and the complete lineup of talent scheduled to appear during the Draft will be announced at a later date.
The NFL said that the Draft Theatre will not be visible fro the Draft Experience but fans will be able to view the Draft from multiple screens around the park during their reserved time slot on the OnePass app. There will also be opportunities to watch the Draft from inside FirstEnergy Stadium for fans with the Draft Experience reservations during the time the Draft is ongoing.
The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission previously said it is working with restaurants, bars and local businesses to make sure the entire city is an "extension of the Draft" and to allow fans exploring the area to view the events at multiple locations around downtown Cleveland.
Click here to download the NFL OnePass app from the Google Play store for android.
Click here to download the NFL OnePass app from the App Store for Apple.
Camryn Justice is a digital content producer at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Twitter @camijustice.
