Chicago School Kids Get In On NFL Draft Fun
(CBS) --The festivities surrounding the NFL Draft in Chicago are underway.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports with workers adding finishing touches to the sprawling Draft Town, children from Chicago schools got some football tips from top prospects whose names will be called tomorrow night.
Roberta Mayes' granddaughter was among them.
"They need to be exposed to this," she said.
Teacher Elizabeth Kaydrich says her students at Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Bronzeville were "really excited" to be there.
Mayor Emanuel could take a bow for this extravaganza, a wildly seen postcard from his city, but even in this feel-good moment, he was the stern parent, warning little kids to stop pulling out the Grant Park grass.
If you believe less is more this is not your place. Draft Town is 15 football fields in size, earning a glowing review from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who disputed reports that some prospects are disappointed the draft is not again in New York.
"We're thrilled to be here," he said. "This has been bigger than any expectation we had. It's something we think is going to be great for our fans and great for the NFL."
It's come long way from the last time the NFL Draft was in Chicago 51 years ago, when Gil Brandt was picking players for the Dallas Cowboys.
"Well, it's come from some one-story motel in some remote town in Montana to the Sears Tower and growing," he said.
One of the centerpieces of the attractions in Draft Town is the Sweetness Simulator, a wind-tunnel, skydive simulator where you can strike a pose like Walter Payton.
Jarrett Payton said his father Walter would, "probably think it's too much. I think he would be kind of happy though to see my sister and myself out here taking part in the NFL Draft here in Chicago."
The potential television audience for all of this at Draft Town could be 50 million people. It officially opens at 4 p.m. Thursday.
