NFL Draft to be held at Javits Center in 2005

By Hugo Guzman | Saturday, March 05, 2005 | ( 0 )

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NEW YORK, NY - After 10 years at Madison Square Garden, the NFL Draft is changing venues. The NFL announced that the Jacob Javits Convention Center will host the 2005 draft, which is scheduled for April 23-24.

It will mark the 31st straight year the draft will be held in New York City. "We are pleased to be working closely with the Javits Center to continue the tradition of the NFL Draft in New York City," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "We appreciate the support of the city and look forward to using the resources of the Javits Center and New York City to make this year's draft a great event."

Citing a dispute with Cablevision - owners of the Madison Square Garden which oppose the building of a new stadium for the New York Jets on the west side of Manhattan - the league sought a new draft location for the first time since 1995. Prior to the Madison Square's reign, the draft had been held at the nearby Marriott Marquis.

Last month, Cablevision offered to pay the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $600 million for the right to build on the proposed site of the Jets new stadium. The Jets offered $100 million for the land.

Completed in 1986 and located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed stadium site, the Javits Center is known as the "Marketplace for the World" for hosting between 80 and 90 major trade shows and conventions.

Philadelphia, which hosted the first draft in 1936, also was considered as a possible host. "We are thrilled that the National Football League has decided to keep the NFL Draft in New York City, where it belongs," New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

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