What Plays In Indy Stays In Indy: NFL Scouting Combine To Remain Thru 2026
Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 01:34PM By Barry Janoff
November 14, 2024: As interest in NFL off-season events continues to grow, NFL cities are ramping up efforts to host such jewel destinations as the NFL Draft and Scouting Combine as well as the Pro Bowl.
For now, Indianapolis continues to have the best-case scenario to host the NFL Scouting Combine.
The NFL, Indianapolis Colts and Visit Indy tourism group said a deal has been signed to keep the pre-Draft event in Lucas Oil Stadium through 2026.
The current agreement was scheduled to end with the 2025 Scouting Combine, scheduled for Feb. 27-March 2.
The Scouting Combine has been held in Indianapolis since 1987.
“Indianapolis is uniquely designed and built to host an event as complex as the NFL Combine," Pete Ward, Colts COO, said via the team.
“Efficiently moving prospects, team owners, coaching staff, medical personnel, and national media is seamlessly done in Indy, and the Colts are proud to be part of the team keeping the event in our city."
Visit Indy said the 2024 NFL Combine generated a record $6.27 million in economic impact for the area, attracting more than 27,000 people.
The Scouting Combine airs on NFL Network and ESPN platforms.
As it has been doing with its annual Draft, which now is held in different cities each season, the NFL in 2021 opened bidding from other cities to host the Scouting Combine. Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Phoenix have been among those interested, according to NFL analysts.
The 2025 Combine will be the 38th year Indianapolis has hosted the event, which is produced by National Football Scouting, Visit Indy, the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, the City of Indianapolis, IU Health and the Indiana Sports Corp., along with the Colts.
It will again feature the NFL Combine Experience in the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium as well as Inside Look inside the stadium.
"Indianapolis and the NFL Combine have a proud history together, so we're thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and the local community for this 2026 event," Peter O'Reilly, NFL evp-club business, international and league events, said via the league.
"Our partners in Indy have successfully hosted the football evaluation process for decades, and recently, we've collectively worked to grow and evolve the in-person fan experience, bringing tens of thousands of fans closer to the league's future stars.”
In addition to Colts games and such concerts as Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Sting and George Strait, 70,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium — which hosted Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012 to conclude the 2011 season — will host the NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Final Four in 2026 and 2029 (having already done so in 2010, 2015 and 2021).
Beginning with Royal Rumble on Feb. 1, 2025, Indianapolis will host WWE’s three largest stadium events in Lucas Oil Stadium, including WrestleMania and a two-night SummerSlam, in future years as part of a first-of-its-kind partnership between WWE and Indiana Sports Corp signed earlier this year.
"We appreciate the NFL's continued commitment and interest in Indy and the Colts ongoing partnership," Chris Gahl, Visit Indy evp/CMO said via the organization.
“We know Indy is always on audition, striving to keep the event in our city. We are constantly looking to improve and grow the Combine to enhance the fan-facing experience for visitors and fans."
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