When Roger Goodell takes the stage for the first round of the NFL draft and announces that the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock, the NFL commissioner will do so in a massive, temporary theater that was constructed on the lakefront.
Rain likely will be falling, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence likely will be the No. 1 overall pick, and Goodell probably will be greeted by boos — a sure sign that the NFL draft has returned to some semblance of normalcy.
Goodell will be joined in the theater area by thousands of fans, all of whom have been vaccinated and many of whom are Browns backers.
The fans in the theater area, a Browns source said, will include a combination of Browns season-ticket members, frontline workers, educators, youth football coaches and community partners. The team also had a chance to invite some of its corporate partners.
“We were intentional and deliberate to make sure we were reaching out to teachers and administrators with the many districts that we work in through our ‘Stay in the Game!’ programming,” Browns vice president of community relations Jenner Tekancic told Crain’s. “We wanted to make sure that those individuals who are teaching remotely or trying to lead the charge for their school districts in a very unique setting in the past year, we’re trying to make sure that they had this opportunity to celebrate with us at the NFL draft by being one of those guests in the vaccinated area.”
The Browns, Tekancic said, sent out “thousands of invites.”
For the team, it was a unique opportunity to recognize a group of people who have gone above and beyond the last 14 months.
It should add to what could be a surreal scene when Goodell gets set to announce the Browns’ pick near the end of the first round. The Browns don’t need a quarterback, their roster is among the best in the league, and competent people are in charge.
An enjoyable three days should await.
“Now, we can aggregate together in a very safe way in a safe environment and celebrate,” said Dino Bernacchi, the Browns’ senior vice president of marketing and media. “Think about it: You really, outside of individual homes with some loved ones, haven’t been able to do that. And the best part is we’re No. 26 in the draft and we have that strength and stability in this team that we have so much to be excited for and look for this season.
“And this,” Bernacchi added, “is kind of that inaugural kickoff, as the NFL draft always is, to truly celebrate the new season. I know our fans are going to show up and truly be excited to be part of it downtown.”
• Showtime: Bernacchi, who is in charge of the organization’s fan and brand development, said former Browns great Joe Thomas will be doing some live broadcasts from the team’s facility in Berea for the NFL Network.
The Browns’ website has a draft section that will be populated with 31 pieces of content this week. Among the highlights is “Browns Live,” a digital show that is airing six times this week — daily through Saturday, May 1.
Chris Rose, a Northeast Ohio native who works for the NFL Network, will be highlighting some of the organization’s community efforts. (He’s also sampling the best hot chicken in the city. Sauce the City for the win.)
“I think this is such a great moment for us to capitalize on and showcase it so others will get involved,” Bernacchi said.
• Behind the scenes: About a half hour after a recent 75th anniversary edition of “Browns Live,” Paul DePodesta, the team’s chief strategy officer, had a virtual discussion with the club’s season-ticket members.
“He really gave some great, insightful thoughts about the road ahead,” Bernacchi said. “What does it mean? What is he looking at (in the draft)? What will he be looking at?”
Those types of peeks behind the curtain are about “giving them all the access and assets that we possibly can to ensure that they have a great connectivity to this team all year long,” the Browns’ senior VP of marketing and media said.
During our talk with Bernacchi, he gave a stat that, while not surprising, was a pretty good indicator of what awaits the Browns heading into the 2021 season. In January, the team’s engagement on all of its social media channels jumped more than 400%.
“Not a shocker: The world was watching what we were doing,” Bernacchi said.