The NFL Draft is coming to Minneapolis. That's according to a new report from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
The network reports the NFL has been working with the city and the Vikings on plans, and it's expected to be announced at this week's league meeting.
Leaders with Minnesota Sports and Events did confirm to WCCO Radio they have not been told Minneapolis has been chosen, and that a decision is coming on Tuesday.
The 2027 Draft is already confirmed for Washington D.C. This year's Draft was in Pittsburgh.
In March, the bid to host the draft in Minneapoli was submitted to the NFL according to Minnesota Sports and Events CEO Wendy Williams Blackshaw, who joined Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Radio Morning News.
"It's very competitive," Blackshaw said at the time. "The NFL Draft is one of the most competitive bids events out there."
She says U.S. Bank Stadium would serve as the draft's backdrop, and all costs for hosting it would be raised privately. Other details about the events surrounding the draft were still unknown.
The league has already hosted drafts in Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago, leaving Minnesota as the only NFL North team yet to host.
The NFL Draft has become a major offseason event for the NFL. It regularly draws between 600,000 and 800,000 fans over the three-day weekend. The all-time attendance record was set this April in Pittsburgh, with a total of 805,000 attendees. Day 1 alone set a single-day record of 320,000 fans.
Minnesota and Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl in February, of 2018. Minnesota Sports and Events have also brought several other big-ticket sporting events to the Twin Cities including last year's World Junior Hockey Championships, the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Trials, the 2019 men's and 2022 women's NCAA Final Fours, plus the upcoming WWE Summer Slam and 2027 NCAA Tournament first and second round.
