The combine being held in Indianapolis provides a little bit of charm. Coaches, players, front office members, and other NFL personalities kind of just mingle. It’s not a huge metropolis like New York or Los Angeles. The fact the combine is held in the midwest seems like a bit of an homage to the roots of football in the midwest. We’ve come to associate the combine with the city of Indianapolis. That could all change. As of now, the combine is scheduled to be held in Indianapolis until 2021. After that, there could be move. Here are the reasons why.
The traveling circus
The NFL used to always host the draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. One year, the venue wasn’t available so they moved the draft and the rest is history. Now the draft is a big-time even that travels throughout the country. Teams and cities vie for the right to host players simply walking across the stage.
At least with the combine we can see players do something athletic. The NFL is consistently searching for ways to increase revenue. There’s a pretty easy answer to do so: move the combine around the country and make it a big event.
Big city dreams
The city that constantly comes up when it’s about moving the draft is Los Angeles. See, the NFL has its media offices in Los Angeles. The weather is usually great in February — unlike New York City or Indianapolis. There is about to be a new, giant, shiny, expensive stadium in Los Angeles — and the NFL will have offices there — where it would be very easy to hold the combine. It makes sense.
Other competitors
Fine, let’s say the NFL wanted to move around the combine. There would be a ton of other cities interested in hosting players run around in tight work out gear. Las Vegas is another option. They also have a new stadium and the league would probably like to build up the fanbase in Sin City. Plus, Los Angeles is a great tourist location. Fans could head out, buy tickets, gamble, see a show. Las Vegas is another option.
It’s just business
I’d venture to guess a lot of agents aren’t living in Indiana. In fact, I’d guess a lot of them live in southern California. Agents would love having the combine closer to home. It’s just easier that way.
Maybe we don’t even take agents into account. A lot of quarterback gurus also are in southern California. Sure, they travel, but it would give them every last second to work with their clients. That goes for big-time trainers as well. Warm weather allows players to work out with their trainers outside in February.
We’ve already talked about the NFL and its offices in Los Angeles. The entertainment world is also in LA. There are a lot of moving parts to the draft and holding the combine there eases some complications.
Players who know they will be drafted early can also take meetings with brands they may end up working with.
Conclusion
There are simply logical reasons to move the draft out of Indianapolis. Indy has history and nostalgia on its side, but the NFL has always coveted dollars over feelings. The combine will be held in the midwest next year, but it may move after that.
