Cincinnati has 'inside track' to hosting 2029 NFL Draft | Report
Cincinnati might not only be in the running to host the 2029 NFL Draft, but it could be in position to win that race, according to a report by Sports Business Journal's Ben Fischer. With the 2027 NFL Draft committed to Washington, D. C.
, and the National Mall, Fischer reported May 1 that Minneapolis-St. Paul was a clear favorite to land the 2028 draft while Cincinnati held the "inside track" on the 2029 event. In Cincinnati's case, whether or not the NFL is prepared to award the 2029 draft about three years ahead of time seems to be at issue, according to Fischer's reporting.
The Enquirer has reached out the Bengals asking about the team hosting the draft and any details they can provide. This story will be updated if the team responds. Staging the draft would be a significant undertaking with civic implications that extend far beyond the Bengals, and potentially Paycor Stadium, too.
Pittsburgh set a new NFL Draft attendance record with 805,000 spectators over the three-day event April 23-25. The draft was staged in immediate proximity to the Steelers' Acrisure Stadium but past drafts have been located in downtown areas. The NFL draft became a traveling event more than a decade ago, and has since been staged in other mid-size Midwest cities in recent years.
Green Bay, Wisconsin (2025), Detroit (2024) and Kansas City (2023) all held the NFL Draft prior to Pittsburgh hosting the event last month. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati could host 2029 NFL Draft, per report