Skol! NFL Draft Coming to Minneapolis in 2028

For 50 years the NFL Draft took place in one city: New York. Since 2015 it has moved across the country, bringing one of the league’s jewel events to fans in a variety of markets and in 2028, for the first time, the league will bring it to Minneapolis.

The league announced today at its spring meetings in Orlando that the draft will take place in downtown Minneapolis in partnership with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) with activations around U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we’ve experienced it firsthand,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL Draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible event for fans and the next generation of the NFL.”
Bud Light will once again serve as the presenting sponsor of the event as well as the NFL Draft Entertainment Series. The NFL Draft Experience, a free fan festival, will once again be held, featuring exhibits, the Play 60 Zone and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

“For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. “The 2028 NFL Draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota.”

“This is an extraordinary moment for Minnesota and a testament to what can happen when organizations, partners and community leaders come together behind a shared vision,” said Wendy Williams Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “The NFL Draft is one of the biggest and most impactful events in sports, and we are incredibly honored the NFL has entrusted Minnesota with this opportunity. Alongside the Minnesota Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium and our many corporate, civic and hospitality partners, we look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for fans while generating meaningful economic impact and showcasing the very best of our region to a global audience.”

Traveling Showcase

After being held in a variety of hotels and theaters around New York, starting in 2015 the league began holding the draft in different cities, giving markets the chance to host a marquee event, especially ones that are unlikely to host a Super Bowl. The first location outside New York was Chicago, which hosted in both 2015 and ’16. This year’s draft will be hosted on the National Mall in Washington D.C., 10 miles south of the Washington Commanders home stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh set an all-time attendance record with 805,000 fans over three days. The most-watched draft on record came in 2020, when it was held remotely just weeks after the pandemic started.
Minneapolis will join Arlington, Las Vegas and Detroit as markets that have hosted both an NFL Draft and a Super Bowl since 2010. Nashville will join that group when it hosts the Super Bowl in 2030, which the league also announced this week.

When Minneapolis hosts it will become the fourth and final NFC North city to do so, joining the NFC East markets (New York, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington) as the only two of the league’s eight divisions in which every team will have hosted the draft.
2015: Chicago
2016: Chicago
2017: Philadelphia
2018: Arlington
2019: Nashville
2020: Virtual
2021: Cleveland
2022: Las Vegas
2023: Kansas City
2024: Detroit
2025: Green Bay
2026: Pittsburgh
2027: Washington, D.C.
2028: Minneapolis