Five things to know about the 2028 NFL draft coming to the Twin Cities

Emily Leiker, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 19, 2026

Published in Football

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Following a vote by owners Tuesday morning at the NFL’s spring meeting, Minnesota is officially set to host the 2028 NFL draft.

Here are five things to know about the event, whether you’re a Vikings fanatic, NFL-curious or are just curious about the projected impact on the region.

What is the NFL draft?

The NFL draft is a three-day event during which 257 former college football players from all levels are selected by the 32 NFL teams.

Day 1 of the draft consists of the first round, when, barring trades or extenuating circumstances, each of the league’s teams picks based on order of finish the previous season from worst to best. This year, the Vikings picked No. 18 overall after finishing 9-8 in 2025.

The first round will begin in the evening, typically around 7 p.m. CT. Each team gets eight minutes to make their selection. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, often to many boos from the gathered in-person crowd, announces the No. 1 overall pick. In recent years, fewer draft prospects have attended in person, with many preferring to watch with friends and family at home.

Day 2 features Rounds 2 and 3, again taking place at night. Teams get seven minutes to make picks, and picks on this day are typically announced by current or former players from each team. This year, players who were from or affiliated with Pittsburgh were prominently featured.

Day 3 starts earlier, at 11 a.m. CT, and lasts into the evening as Rounds 4-7 are conducted. Teams have only five minutes to make each of their picks in the final four rounds. Celebrities and fans often announce picks in the later rounds.

When will it happen?

The draft typically takes place one of the final weekends in April. This year, it was April 23-25; exact dates for the 2028 draft have yet to be announced.

Late April can be an interesting time for Minnesota weather-wise.

April 24-27 typically marks the metro area’s final 32-degree temperature of the spring, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The average temperature in April is in the mid-to-high 40s.

There are always outlying weather days, of course. On April 22 this year, it was 86 degrees in Minneapolis, according to the National Weather Service; on the 25th, the high was 57 degrees. Minnesotans themselves will be prepared for any weather. But visitors, don’t be surprised if heading out to the draft requires bundling up or packing a poncho.

Downtown Minneapolis will anchor event, but ...

The main draft stage is expected to be around U.S. Bank Stadium and the Commons in downtown Minneapolis, similar to how Pittsburgh and Green Bay have set up their draft venues the past two years.

Other draft-related events, though, are expected to take place at the Vikings Lakes development in Eagan, which includes TCO Performance Center; the Mall of America; The Armory; and in St. Paul. Those events could include concerts, watch parties, arts events, charity fundraisers and more. Pittsburgh screened a documentary about its football heritage as part of its lineup.

Minnesota, rather than Minneapolis or even the Twin Cities, is officially being labeled as the host, reflecting the event’s large footprint.

How much does it cost to attend?

Generally, the draft is free to attend, though registration is required to get into the NFL Draft Experience, a fan festival with exhibits and activities. Every adult can register up to five minors to join them with one entrance QR code.

But the Draft Theater, the viewing area around the main stage where the selections are announced, is ticketed, with seating only available to invited ticket holders. Some fans may be selected for standing room spaces within the theater, particularly on Days 2 and 3.

The Draft Experience is open longer on draft days, while the theater opens closer to the beginning of drafting each day.

Thousands of attendees, millions of dollars

Since the NFL began changing draft locations on an annual basis more than a decade ago, it’s increasingly become a desirable event to league markets.

That’s because it brings a lot of people to town, and it can make a big economic impact.

This year’s draft in Pittsburgh set a record with 805,000 attendees. It broke the previous record of 775,000 attendees, held by the 2024 draft in Detroit.

While attendance since 2015 has varied, it’s clocked in at over 500,000 each of the past three years with Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh as hosts. Nashville is the other host city that surpassed that mark, having been the first to do so when 600,000 people attended the 2019 draft.

Most markets that have hosted the draft have also seen a significant economic boost. Nearly every city since Philadelphia in 2017 has reported over $100 million in economic gains, with Nashville and Detroit even surpassing $200 million. Pittsburgh has yet to release an economic impact report for the 2026 draft.