Report: Cincinnati has ‘inside track’ to hosting future NFL Draft. When it could happen
YOU’RE WATCHING WLWT NEWS FIVE LEADING THE WAY. DEVELOPMENT HERE. MIKE WAS ALL OVER IT, AND OUR SPORTS TEAM FOLLOWING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY. CINCINNATI MAY BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO LANDING THE NFL DRAFT. WOULD BE HUGE. THE CROWDS IN PITTSBURGH THIS PAST MONTH, A REMINDER OF HOW BIG A DEAL IT WOULD BE FOR THE CITY OF CINCINNATI. WE’VE GOT OUR SPORTS DIRECTOR, CHARLIE CLIFFORD HERE. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE ABOUT 10 OR 11 THIS MORNING. CHARLIE, WE HAVE NEXT YEAR IT’S GOING TO DC. IT SOUNDS LIKE MINNEAPOLIS IS GOING TO GET 28. SO THIS IS REALLY A FIGHT FOR 2029. AND ACCORDING TO BEN FISHER, THE SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, CINCINNATI, CURRENTLY HOLDS, QUOTE, THE INSIDE TRACK TO WINNING THE BID FOR 2029. THAT’S A MAJOR STEP FORWARD. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE LEAGUE WILL ANNOUNCE 28 AND 29 SIMULTANEOUSLY, SO THIS COULD COME DOWN FAIRLY SOON. NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL SAID ON THE RECORD IN PITTSBURGH AT THE RECENT DRAFT LAST MONTH. THE LEAGUE CONTINUES TO SPOTLIGHT CITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NOT GOING TO BE UP TO HOST A SUPER BOWL IN TERMS OF THEIR TOP CHOICES FOR THE DRAFT. SO PITTSBURGH, GREEN BAY, DETROIT, KANSAS CITY, THOSE ARE THE FOUR MOST RECENT HOSTS. TONIGHT, GUYS. WHERE WOULD THE SITE BE? OF COURSE, YOU KNOW YOU’RE LOOKING AT UNION TERMINAL IS INTERESTING OUTSIDE THERE DOWN ON THE BANKS, YOU’RE SEEING A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IN AND AROUND PAYCOR STADIUM. THE NUMBER ONE THING, IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT WILL LOOK BEST ON TV, RIGHT? CINCINNATI SPORTS COMMISSION, THE LEAGUE, THE BENGALS THERE. AND IS IT BIG ENOUGH? RIGHT. I THINK THAT’S WHY WE TALK A LOT OF TIMES ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER SQUARE WOULD NOT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING. ALL THAT NEW TAILGATING AREA COULD BE GOOD. AND YOU CAN PUT THAT TO USE. AND THEN THE BANKS PEOPLE COULD SPILL OVER THERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITHOUT QUESTION, WHATEVER. JUST GET IT DONE. AND A QUICK NOTE, PITTSBURGH SAID THAT 800,000 PEOPLE THERE, LET’S BE REAL, IT WAS NOT A THAT’S AN INDIANAPOLIS 503 STRAIGHT DAYS. IT WASN’T 800,000, BUT IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST EVENT HERE. I MEAN, FILL IN THAT BLANK. SINCE SINCE WHAT? IN TERMS OF CROWDS OPENING DAY GAME. THERE YOU GO. MAYBE THE PITTSBURGH PEOPLE ARE LIKE TEENAGE BOYS IN THEIR GOLF SCORES. I WAS LIKE 400. THEY BENCH, YOU KNOW HOW THAT ACCOUNTING FIRM. I’LL GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS. WE ACTUALLY
Report: Cincinnati has ‘inside track’ to hosting future NFL Draft. When it could happen
Updated: 5:20 PM EDT May 1, 2026
Could Cincinnati one day be the epicenter for one of the National Football League’s marquee events?It’s reportedly on the table.According to a report from Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer, Cincinnati has “the inside track” to host the 2029 draft.In his report, which also suggests the 2028 draft could be bound for Minnesota, Fischer says “nothing is final,” citing sources.Since the draft began moving to different cities, starting when Chicago hosted back-to-back events in 2015 and 2016, two AFC North teams have hosted the event: Cleveland (2021) and Pittsburgh (2026).The 2027 draft is the only future draft with a set location: Washington, D.C.If the Queen City is able to snag the 2029 draft, it’ll be one of the biggest gets for the city since the Cincinnati Sports Commission was reconstructed after not being selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The commission is working to bring both major national and international events to Cincinnati. Along with the draft, the commission is aiming to bring matches for the 2031 Rugby World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup. 2015 marked the last time Cincinnati hosted a major sporting event, when Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game came to Great American Ball Park.
CINCINNATI —
Could Cincinnati one day be the epicenter for one of the National Football League’s marquee events?
It’s reportedly on the table.
According to a report from Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer, Cincinnati has “the inside track” to host the 2029 draft.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
A very interesting nugget today on the 2029 NFL Draft per Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer.
Per Fischer’s sources, Cincinnati has the “inside track” to host.
Minneapolis is expected to be named host in 2028. Remains to be seen if 2029’s city is announced at the same time.
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) May 1, 2026
In his report, which also suggests the 2028 draft could be bound for Minnesota, Fischer says “nothing is final,” citing sources.
Since the draft began moving to different cities, starting when Chicago hosted back-to-back events in 2015 and 2016, two AFC North teams have hosted the event: Cleveland (2021) and Pittsburgh (2026).
The 2027 draft is the only future draft with a set location: Washington, D.C.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
If the Queen City is able to snag the 2029 draft, it’ll be one of the biggest gets for the city since the Cincinnati Sports Commission was reconstructed after not being selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The commission is working to bring both major national and international events to Cincinnati. Along with the draft, the commission is aiming to bring matches for the 2031 Rugby World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup.
2015 marked the last time Cincinnati hosted a major sporting event, when Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game came to Great American Ball Park.