NASHVILLE – By all accounts, Nashville hit a home run when hosting the 2019 NFL Draft.
Now, the city wants another swing.
Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, said on Tuesday the city submitted an expression of interest to host the NFL Draft in 2024 or 2025.
"They have not opened up the bidding process for those years yet," Spyridon said. "But we have stayed in touch with the league, and we will continue to do so."
Spyridon said the NFL sent a form inquiring about interest to the Titans roughly 6-8 months ago, and the city and the team returned it to the league. Spyridon said the NFL has not provided any updates since, "and I am sure their focus is on: "Can we play football this fall?' And we are pulling for them in that regard."
The 2021 NFL Draft will be held in Cleveland, Ohio. Las Vegas will host the 2022 draft after this year's public event was canceled. The 2023 draft will be in Kansas City.
Spyridon said he's optimistic about the city of Nashville being chosen as a host once again in a window he sees running through 2026. Spyridon said he expects the league to let the host cities in future years know roughly 3-5 years in advance for planning purposes.
"I'd be more surprised if they don't give us a future date than I would be if we get one," Spyridon said. "I am very confident we'll get a future year in that window, because they still tell every city they (talk to about the draft): 'Call Nashville'. I've heard that from the other cities, and I've heard that from the league. So, I'm confident. And in my mind, five years is a really good window as far as repeating something big."
The 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville easily shattered records for attendance, as over 600,000 fans fill the streets of downtown Nashville for the three-day event. The NFL Draft was broadcast around the world in a record 115 countries, with a record 47.5 million in television viewership.
The NFL and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced the 2019 NFL Draft generated a record $133 million in direct spending -- a 79 percent increase over the $74 million at the 2018 Dallas event. The economic impact was another record-breaker at $224 million, also a 79 percent increase over the $125 million in 2018.
"The NFL Draft in Nashville outperformed even our lofty expectations and set the bar for future NFL events," Peter O'Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business and League Events for the NFL, said after the 2019 NFL Draft. "We are grateful to the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, the City of Nashville, the volunteers and the fans who made this unforgettable event the most-watched and most-attended Draft ever."
"The economic impact numbers … from the Nashville Draft were another clear indicator of the event's immense success," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said at the time. "By any measure, it was the NFL's most successful draft in their history and I am so proud that our organization played a role in that achievement. This year's Draft will be remembered for years to come and will definitely lead to other events large and small for our city."
So, what could the city of Nashville do for an encore?
"That question gets asked," Spyridon said with a laugh. "But that's what we'll be thinking: How do we do it not just equally as good, but better? What are the bells and whistles we can put on this to make it different, and better? Because doing it the same doesn't feel right.
"I think the stage is likely in the same location, but the rest of it. … But it's no different than New Year's Eve and July 4th (celebrations). We have a pretty good blueprint, but we try and do something unique and different, so it doesn't get stale. That is the fun part it. If it was easy, I wouldn't want to do it again."
A look back at the record-setting 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville, Tenn. (Photos: Donald Page, Richard Suter, AP)
A detail view of the NFL logo in neon lights during the 2019 NFL football draft on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A temporary NFL neon sign joins the permanent ones along Broadway as preparation continues for the NFL Draft Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The NFL Draft is scheduled to be held Thursday through Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk walks the NFL draft red carpet, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
A close up of a NFL Draft logo on stage during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
A general view of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge temporarily decorated and lit for the NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
A general view of fans during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Fans crowd onto Shelby Street pedestrian bridge during the 2019 NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Former Tennessee Titans player Eddie George meets fans after announcing the pick for the Titans as Mississippi wide reciever A.J. Brown during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
A fan cheers on the main stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Fans sit on the main stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
FILE - In this April 27, 2019, file photo, fans attend the final day of the NFL football draft in Nashville, Tenn. In a memo sent to the 32 teams Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell outlined procedures for the April 23-25 draft. The guidelines include no group gatherings. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Titans Fans Celebrate second round draft pick, A J Brown, at the NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Al Wagner)
Titans Fans Celebrate second round draft pick, A J Brown, with Eddie George at the NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Al Wagner)
Fans are seen during the third round of the NFL football draft, in Nashville, Tenn. on Friday, April 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Tennessee Titans fans are seen during the third round of the NFL football draft, in Nashville, Tenn. on Friday, April 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fans sit on the main stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Fans celebrating at the NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Former Tennessee Titans player Eddie George takes a selfie photo with fans during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
A general view of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge temporarily decorated and lit for the NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Fans crowd onto Broadway to watch the 2019 NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
NFL Draft on April 25. Photos by Donn Jones
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, right participates in open ceremonies with football players ahead of the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands on stage during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Former Tennessee Titans player Eddie George announces a pick during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Former Tennessee Titans player Eddie George announces the pick for the Titans as Mississippi wide reciever A.J. Brown during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Former Tennessee Titans player Eddie George announces the pick for the Titans as Mississippi wide reciever A.J. Brown during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
A general view of the draft stage as the Tennessee Titans select with 19th pick of the first round during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
A general view of the draft stage as the Tennessee Titans select during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
A general view of the draft stage as the Tennessee Titans select with 19th pick of the first round during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
A general view of the draft stage as the Tennessee Titans select with 19th pick of the first round during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Tennessee high school football players join NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as Goodell announces that the Tennessee Titans selected Mississippi State's Jeffery Simmons during the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Nissan Stadium, host venue of the 2019 NFL draft, April 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
NFL Draft Day Three on April 27, 2019. Photo by Donn Jones
Fans watch ther main stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans mascot cheers with fans near the main stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Fans crowd onto Broadway to watch the 2019 NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Tim McGraw performs at the NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Al Wagner)
Fans line Broadway before the start of Day 3 of the NFL football draft, in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
People walk on a bridge lined with video boards providing news on draft picks on the final day of the NFL football draft Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans fans are seen on Day 3 of the NFL football draft, in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Tennessee Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk is seen with NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson on Day 3 of the NFL football draft, in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Fans attend the final day of the NFL football draft Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans player Jurrell Casey takes a photo with fans on the main stage after announcing the Titans selection of North Carolina-Charlotte guard Nate Davis during the third round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Fans attend the final day of the NFL football draft Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop announces the final pick of the NFL football draft Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The last pick of the draft is dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant." Succop was chosen as the final pick of the 2009 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson, picked by the Arizona Cardinals, is this year's "Mr. Irrelevant." (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Country music star Tim McGraw performs after the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Lindsay Ell performs at the NFL Draft on Friday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Al Wagner)
Dierks Bentley performs at the NFL Draft on Friday, April 27, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Al Wagner)
A general view outside Nissan Stadium during the 2019 NFL football draft on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A general view outside Nissan Stadium during the 2019 NFL football draft on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
