NFL draft could move to Los Angeles next year

Have you always wanted to attend the NFL draft but didn’t want to go to New York? You might get your wish.

Radio City Music Hall, the traditional site of the draft, will not be available next year. Letters were sent Thursday to representatives of three cities, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, regarding hosting the 2015 draft, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

More than a dozen cities and clubs across the country have expressed interest in hosting future drafts. The NFL has narrowed its focus to those three cities and has invited NYC & Company, representatives of Madison Square Garden, Choose Chicago and the L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission, all organizations that work on behalf of their cities in hosting major events. League officials, though, have not ruled out any cities that have expressed interest.

Radio City officials informed the NFL that the venue will not be available in April or May, but there are other potential sites owned by its parent company, MSG, in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. One of the sites is the Forum, former home of the Lakers. Other sites in each city will also be considered. In years past Tim Leiweke, former chief executive of AEG, had proposed LA Live as a draft site.

According to the source, factors influencing whom will be chosen include the availability of the proposed venue for April 22-25 or April 29-May 2, the number of fans who will be able to attend the draft and related events, the ability to host a fan festival in an adjacent indoor or outside space and hotel availability for fans, team and league staff and incoming prospects and their families.

The league has asked for the three cities to submit information by mid-June and will ask for additional information, if needed, by the end of June. A decision will be made later this summer.