Roger Goodell Says 2015 NFL Draft Location Narrowed Down to LA and Chicago

For the first time in 50 years, the NFL draft will not be hosted in New York. 

“We’re focusing solely on Los Angeles and Chicago now,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters Thursday, via the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer. 

Goodell said that New York is no longer under consideration as a potential 2015 draft host because Radio City Music Hall isn't available for the planned dates in late April or early May.

Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo noted another potential reason for the change:  

A final decision is expected in late summer, according to Goodell, although nothing is firm at this point. 

It will be a little surreal not to have the draft in New York, which has hosted the annual event every year since 1965. Some Jets fans will surely make the trip to Chicago or Los Angeles, but J-E-T-S chants and the famous booing of certain first-round picks have always been a little more meaningful due to the fact the draft was in New York. 

Still, Los Angeles and Chicago are major metropolises, and they should be able to handle such an event just fine. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller offered his choice:

Chicago has proved to be an extremely passionate football city, while L.A. doesn't have an NFL team. It would make sense that the Windy City is currently the front-runner, but the size of Los Angeles offers lots of advantages, especially for the NFL, which is constantly trying to grow its brand. 

Either way, both locales offer pros and cons, and it will be interesting to see which city Goodell picks. 

Part of the intrigue of the draft is the electric environment inside the building, and if the league wants to expand the yearly summit from three days to four, which has been discussed, finding the right location will be vital.