Philly cleanup continues after successful 2017 NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- After 11 months of planning, three and a half weeks of set up, and three days of events, crews are now tearing down the massive NFL Draft stage at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Art Museum steps were becoming visible again as parts of the stage are hauled away. VIP tents, fences and banners are also being packed up.

While that happens, league and city leaders are looking back on a strong showing for Philadelphia.

Attendance hit 250,000 people, which is a record for the event. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny says it went off without a hitch.

"People just got along. Eagles fans and cowboys fans and Steelers fans. A lot of good ribbing and stuff, but nothing nasty," he said.

Those who live around the Ben Franklin Parkway, the center of the action, agree.

"The crowds were actually pretty well behaved, which I was worried about because they were right across from our house. We didn't have any issues with that," said Lauren Gates.

"Everybody was well behaved and everyone was excited about it," said Kim Rawlingson.

But there was one complaint about the draft, and that was about parking.

"I didn't know it was going to cause all the traffic jams and walking chaos," said Rawlingson.

Mayor Kenny acknowledged that's something that could be addressed.

"I do not diminish their complaints and I understand and appreciate their patience," Kenney said.

Especially if, or when, the draft comes back.

"We want to get it down, we want to deconstruct it for this year. Do some debriefing internally have some conversations with the NFL and the Eagles and see what happens," Kenney said.

We asked the NFL if the draft will be coming back to Philadelphia next year or the year after.

The league said, "Philadelphia has been a fantastic host and in our eyes, the bar has been raised for what the draft is and can be."

It will take two weeks to take the stage down, but everything else will be gone in a few days.

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