Report: MN Vikings Now the Favorite to Land NFL Draft

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NFL Draft

Last weekend, the National Football League took center stage in the sports world with the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Minnesota Vikings used the 18th overall pick on polarizing Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.

Over the past decade or two, the NFL Draft has become one of the greatest offseason spectacles in all of sports. Previously hosted annually in New York, at Radio City Music Hall, the league turned the draft into a traveling event back in 2015, as it started booming with popularity.

That first year, it was held in Chicago. Since, it’s touched a total of nine different cities across the country, and was even held virtually back in 2020. This offseason, it was Pittsburgh that played host.

Last year, our Easterly neighbors hosted in Green Bay. In 2027, the NFL Draft will be located in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., with the National Mall and U.S. Capitol Building in the backdrop.

As of Friday, the NFL has yet to name a host city for 2028. However, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, a new favorite has emerged out of the northern outskirts of the American football world.

NFL Draft coming to Minnesota Vikings backyard?

Only recently did the MN Vikings submit their bid to host the 2028 draft. At the time, it felt like there might be a reason for their late injury. Now, Siefert is indeed reporting that Minneapolis has become the favorite, within league circles.

U.S. Bank Stadium is among the most impressive venues across all of the sports world, both domestically and internationally. After being erected, it even hosted a Super Bowl (LII – February 4, 2018).

While it’s widely praised for its impressive interior, U.S. Bank Stadium will show off more of its exterior for the NFL Draft, at least that’s what the initial plans call for. From what they have said publicly, the Minnesota Vikings will hold their standard draft party inside, like they do every April.

However, the NFL Draft stage, green room and National TV broadcast will be held outside, on the concourse, mostly on/around Medtronic Plaza (The Commons), where they can show off the massive doors that will hopefully be open that evening.

Credit: Credit: U.S. Bank Stadium

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Although nothing is currently set in stone, the assumption would be that the NFL utilizes The Commons space to the west of the stadium. This area has often housed pregame concerts, and it’s really the only spot that makes logical sense for such a large production as the NFL Draft.

Planning a massive outdoor event in April is a bold move…

Obviously, everyone involved will be praying for decent weather. On the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft, it was 72 degrees in downtown Minneapolis, carrying lows in the mid-50’s and low-60’s, throughout the weekend. Just days later, of course, temps across the state dropped into the 30’s and 40’s.

Theoretically, hosting an outdoor draft on a beatiful spring evening in Minnesota seems like a great idea. But this is still April, we are talking about. And we all know better than to expect Mother Nature to cooperate with what we want anytime before the Calendar flips to May.

And even then, you aren’t completely safe. Nonetheless, more than 800,000 turned out in Pittsburgh, over the course of the three day event last weekend. You know Minnesotans aren’t going to be outdone, no matter the weather.

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