Nashville to host 2019 NFL draft

NFL owners awarded the 2019 NFL draft to Nashville during their annual spring meetings on Wednesday.

The draft, which was commonly held in New York City from 1965-2014, has moved to different cities in the past four years with the city of the Tennessee Titans now getting the nod for the first time.

Chicago held the event from 2015-16 before Philadelphia hosted in 2017. This year's draft, which saw the likes of Shaquem Griffin drafted to the Seattle Seahawks, was held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the AT&T Stadium.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the news by declaring to the Nashville contingent, led by Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, "you're now on the clock".

Goodell added: "It has become one of the most anticipated events of the year.

"It's one of those events we're continually focused on [to determine] how we can be more effective, larger and frankly, an opportunity for our fans to engage in football during the offseason.

"We had a great experience in Dallas this year. They did a wonderful job."

The city has previously hosted the 2003 NHL entry draft, the 2014 Women's Final Four and the 2016 NHL All-Star game.

Thousands of people turned out last year for a party that shut down an area of their downtown when the Nashville Predators played for the Stanley Cup, losing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Around 20,000 then turned out for the unveiling of the Titans' new uniform in April where the Florida Georgia Line performed in a free concert.