It’s been rumored for months, and now Congressman Bob Brady says it’s happening: The NFL Draft will be held in Philadelphia next April according to Brady, via Philly.com. The Eagles do not have a first round pick in next year’s draft.

Congressman Bob Brady told Philly.com that Mayor Kenney called Thursday to “tell him that the city had agreed to host the draft and to commit $5 million to pull off the three-day event.” $5 million is 1/7th of Roger Goodell’s yearly salary. The city did not confirm. There’s also this gem:

“Brady said the mayor initially had expressed concern about the financial commitment but changed his mind after he was convinced that the city could raise the money and not put the burden on taxpayers.

Brady said the Building Trades Union would put in more than $1 million toward building a temporary stage and arena on the Ben Franklin Parkway with seating for about 3,000 spectators.”

I’m assuming “raise the money” means corporate sponsors will foot the whole bill, and Brady said he and Mayor Jim Kenney “had to go around and see if we could get some people who would help finance it and I think we were kind of successful.” Brady said the whole draft would take place outdoors on the Parkway, which sounds… interesting. Lauren Hitt, spokeswoman for the mayor, told Philly.com that “I can’t speak for the Congressman, but I can tell you that the City has definitely not been awarded the draft.”

If the draft is coming to Philadelphia, Brady and Kenney better bank on not passing the costs onto taxpayers, as they were already stuck with a bill from the Pope’s visit, and no one wants to pay Roger Goodell anything out of their pocket if they don’t have to.