‘An Unforgettable Experience’: NFL Drafts Washington DC To Host 2027 Event

By Barry Janoff

May 5, 2025: In December 1940, the Chicago Bears selected Michigan Heisman Trophy winning halfback Tom Harmon with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1941 NFL Draft, which was held in the Willard Hotel in Washington DC.

The NFL will return to the scene of that event, today naming Washington DC as the site for the 2027 Draft.

Hosted in partnership with Washington Commanders and the local organizing committee, Events DC, the NFL said the 2027 Draft would take place across the District's most iconic landmarks, including the National Mall, which encompasses the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol and the White House.

“The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said via the league.

“We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington, D.C., a city rich in history and national pride. With the support of President Trump, the Commanders, Events DC, and Mayor (Muriel) Bowser we're looking forward to delivering an unforgettable experience as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars."

Over the course of the three-day event, Washington D.C. will host a series of Draft activities, including a variety of community events, the Draft Concert Series and the NFL Draft Experience.

Pittsburgh will host the 2026 Draft.

The Draft has come light-years away from the 1940 event, especially since 2015, when the league moved the Draft out of New York, where it had been held from 1965-2014.

Over the three days of the recently concluded 2025 Draft, more than 600,000 fans attended the event in Green Bay, matching Nashville’s record in 2019 for the second-highest attendance in Draft history behind Detroit, which set the NFL Draft attendance record with 775,000 fans in 2024.

Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission said the 2024 NFL Draft generated $213.6 million in economic impact, including $161.3 million from visitors coming to Southeast Michigan.

The 2023 Draft in Kansas City had a $164 million economic impact, the 2022 Draft in Las Vegas had a $235 million impact, and the 2019 Draft in Nashville had a $224 million impact, per the NFL and local sources.

The economic-impact for Green Bay is expected to be upward of $95 million.

“The NFL Draft is one of the biggest moments in sports — and we’re incredibly proud to help bring it to Washington, D.C.,” Josh Harris, Commanders managing partner, said via the team.

“It will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors, millions of viewers around the world; and generate jobs, tax revenue, and meaningful economic impact across the city. The Draft is a powerful reminder of how sports bring people together — and we’re honored to play a role in that.”

This is the second major NFL-DC news in as many weeks.

On April 29, the Commanders and Washington DC officials unveiled a plan to build a $3 billion stadium on the site of the current RFK Stadium that would being the franchise back to DC.

With an eye on hosting the Super Bowl and other events year-round, the approximately 65,000-seat stadium will have a glass-domed roof. Currently projected and ancillary costs could raise the tab to $4 billion, scheduled to open in 2030.

“The bidding process for this, actually, there’s almost as much demand for the Draft as there is for the Super Bowl,” Goodell told ESPN during the Draft in Detroit. “Because so many cities can’t host the Super Bowl, but they can do the Draft. It’s getting to the point now where the Draft, it’s not in the same league, but it’s pretty darn close.”

The NFL said the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay was seen by an average audience of 7.5 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and digital channels for the three-day event, making it the second most-watched Draft on record behind only 2020 and up +27% versus last year.

“It will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors, millions of viewers; and generate jobs, tax revenue and meaningful economic impact across the city."

Coverage of Rounds 4-7 averaged 4.3 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and digital channels, making it the most-watched Day 3 on record and up +43% versus 2024.

“This is a historic occasion for Washington, DC, and we are absolutely honored to host the 2027 NFL Draft,” said Angie Gates, Events DC president and CEO, said via the organization.

“The NFL Draft will provide football fans with an unforgettable experience, while showcasing all that makes Washington, DC a world-class destination and the Sports Capital. We look forward to working with our partners and community to deliver a world-class event that reflects the dynamic spirit of our city.”

Since 2015, the NFL Draft has been staged in Chicago (2015-16), Philadelphia (2017), Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium, 2018), Nashville (2019), virtually in 2020 due to COVID-19, Cleveland (2021), Las Vegas (2022), Kansas City, MO (2023), Detroit (2024), Green Bay (2025) and upcoming in Pittsburgh (2026).

For the record, Harmon never played for the Bears, choosing instead to pursue an acting career. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams in 1946-47 before becoming a renowned sports announcer for the next three decades. He passed away in 1990, but maybe the NFL would consider inviting his son, actor Mark Harmon, and/or daughter, actress Kelly Harmon, to complete the circle.

NFL Commanders $3B Stadium Plan Returns Team To DC; Super Bowl To Follow?

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NFL Draft Detroit: $200M Economic Impact, 400K Visitors, ‘Bigger Than The Super Bowl’

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