In a crowded auditorium in General George A. McCall Elementary and Middle school, Mayor Jim Kenney, School Superintendent William Hite and an auditorium filled with children celebrated the kickoff of the NFL Draft with a rally and games.

And though the city has been very open about the expected costs and revenues of the draft with costs accumulating to figures between $20 and $25 million, the NFL will be paying for a majority of the costs with the city raising $5 million in private funds and spending $500,000 according to city services according to estimates from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

But outside of the costs and traffic that the city is so focused on, a very different aspect of the draft kickoff today.

Announcing a renewed commitment to parks and recreation and a unification of the school board with the city, the kickoff was a fun time for the kids and a new leaf for the city. 

On Thursday, April 27, the first round of the draft will kick off just after 8 p.m. On Friday, April 28, the start time for rounds two and three is 7 p.m. And on Saturday, April 29, the final rounds kick off starting about noon.