MINNEAPOLIS — National Football League officials announced Minneapolis will host the 2028 NFL Draft. The draft is traditionally held during the last week of April.
Minnesota Sports and Events President and CEO Wendy Blackshaw said organizers are confident the Twin Cities can match the large crowds seen at recent drafts, including the estimated 800,000 fans who attended in Pittsburgh last month.
“Every draft is different. Every draft, you make it unique for your city, and we do not know what the footprint is yet, but we are working with the NFL to figure that out,” Blackshaw said. “I mean, Pittsburgh had a huge number, but that included a lot of watch parties around the city, and we have those same plans in place.”
Blackshaw said space around U.S. Bank Stadium could accommodate crowds of around 100,000 depending on the event layout, with additional fans expected at watch parties and community events across the metro.
“Around the stadium, there is room depending on the stage layout for somewhere in the 100,000,” she said. “And then again, layer on top of that, the watch parties, all of the other things that are happening in the community. And we feel really confident that we will have a huge crowd. We’re competitive.”
Roger Goodell called Minnesota “a market that delivers at the highest level,” while Mark Wilf said the event will showcase the region’s “energy, hospitality and pride.”
The draft is expected to provide a major economic boost for the Twin Cities, with recent host cities reporting impacts between $100 million and $200 million.
