KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 1000’s of NFL followers converged Thursday night time to Union Station and the Nationwide World Warfare I Museum and Memorial in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, for the opening spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Native officers mentioned that the world designated for watching the draft – a unique space than the fan-centric NFL Draft Expertise on the south facet of Liberty Memorial – reached capability round 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, the NFL’s Senior Director of Occasions Nicki Ewell mentioned the draft viewing space had a capability of roughly 60,000 individuals, with the power to increase “a bit of greater than that.”

“We’ve been right here a dozen instances to verify now we have this website as buttoned up as doable,” Ewell mentioned. “You’re going to see all of the fences and also you’re not going to have the ability to simply converge onto the positioning, so undoubtedly there may be going to be a capability and we anticipate to hit that on Thursday.”

Ewell mentioned the league has been selling the choice for followers to return again to take part within the NFL Draft Expertise and watch the draft itself for rounds two and three on Friday and all remaining rounds on Saturday.

“There may be going to be a cap and that’s why we’re selling to return again on Friday and to return again on Saturday when you don’t get a chance to make it on Thursday night time,” she mentioned.

A KSHB 41 Information producer mentioned that occasion officers made an announcement over the loudspeaker that the garden space on the north facet of Liberty Memorial was closed and blocked entry from the south facet to the north garden.

The general draft space differed largely from when Kansas Citians trekked right down to the world for the current Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Tremendous Bowl parades this yr and in 2020, and within the 2015 when the Kansas Metropolis Royals received the World Collection.

Throughout these occasions, exterior of proscribing entry to sure elements of the parade route, followers have been capable of freely roam about.

The NFL’s Ewell mentioned Wednesday the league had been working with the Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Police Division and different legislation enforcement businesses throughout the world.

“Police have been an ideal accomplice to be sure that is aware of know if we do get to a capability state of affairs, we don’t wish to have you ever head down and have a poor expertise,” Ewell mentioned.

Ewell added nonetheless, that “this isn’t the Chiefs parade or the Royals parade the place its tons of of hundreds of individuals simply converged right down to the positioning.”

The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft are set to proceed Friday night time. The NFL Draft Expertise will re-open to followers at midday Friday and keep open till 10 p.m.

The NFL Draft Expertise will run on the third and last day from 9 a.m. to six p.m. on Saturday.

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Search for extra protection of the 2023 NFL Draft under and at kshb.com/kcontheclock