CLEVELAND — They were installing the final pieces of fencing and setting up the last of the picnic tables downtown here on Wednesday afternoon, all in preparation for the NFL draft that begins Thursday.
Originally, bringing the big show to Cleveland was considered a nod to this old football town and its loyal-in-the-face-of-football-failure fan base. Without a domed stadium — let alone the kind of glamorous nightlife the NFL loves — a Super Bowl is never coming here.
“This is the next best thing though,” said fan Jim McIntyre of nearby Fairview Park, who wandered over to take in the lakefront setup that sits between the FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.