It's Official: Minnesota Will Be Hosting The 2028 NFL Draft

There has been a lot of buzz building recently regarding the Minnesota Vikings and the city of Minneapolis being chosen to host one of the biggest events in sports in the near future.

The NFL Draft has become massive, with fans traveling from everywhere to see it live, and several NFL insiders this week have said that Minnesota will be announced soon as a future host.

Well, today the NFL made it official, announcing that Minnesota has been selected to host the 2028 NFL Draft, in partnership with Minnesota Sports and Events and the Minnesota Vikings.

The three-day event will be anchored in downtown Minneapolis around U.S. Bank Stadium, and if recent history is any guide, it will be a landmark event for the area.

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The NFL Draft Has Become A Monster

The NFL Draft hasn't always been what it is today. For decades, it was a simple two-day television event held in New York City, watched mostly by die-hard fans and football insiders.

That changed in 2015 when the NFL moved to a rotating host city model and transformed the Draft into a full-scale, multi-day fan festival.

The results have been staggering. The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh attracted a record-setting 805,000 fans over three days, and that doesn't count the millions who watched nationally and internationally.

Cities that host the Draft see an enormous influx of visitors, media attention, and economic activity. Super Bowl LII in Minnesota generated more than $450 million in total economic activity for the state. A Draft of this scale is expected to produce a comparable impact.

The 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C., and then Minnesota will be on the clock for 2028.

What Minnesota Is Getting

The 2028 NFL Draft will be a full three-day celebration of football centered in downtown Minneapolis.

The event will include the NFL Draft Theater, the NFL Draft Experience fan festival, live entertainment, community events, and a wide range of activations throughout the region. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to attend from across the country.

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"For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world," said Vikings owner and 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."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was equally enthusiastic, saying Minnesota is a market that "delivers at the highest level" and that the league looks forward to driving positive economic impact throughout the region.

Minnesota Has Done This Before

This is not Minnesota's first time on the biggest stages in sports. Since 2018, major events hosted in Minnesota have generated more than $800 million in economic impact for the state.

The list of recent major events is impressive: Super Bowl LII, multiple NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, the X Games, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Gymnastics, the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, and the upcoming 2026 WWE SummerSlam, all held in Minnesota.

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The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship alone generated $71.5 million in economic impact and drew more than 247,000 attendees from around the world to the state.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey summed it up simply: "We know how to throw a party in Minneapolis, and the 2028 NFL Draft is going to be no exception."

How To Get Tickets

Additional details on dates, programming, and volunteer opportunities for the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota will be announced in the months ahead. Fans interested in premium hospitality packages can register for the official presale now through On Location, the official hospitality provider of the NFL.