sports
NFL Sets 2027 Draft for April 29 to May 1 in Washington, D.C.
The NFL will hold its annual draft on the National Mall in the nation's capital from April 29 through May 1, 2027. Officials expect more than one million attendees for the three-day event.
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The NFL announced Thursday that its 2027 draft will run April 29 through May 1 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The league posted the dates on X along with an image of the Washington Monument framed by cherry blossoms. Peak bloom for the trees this year occurred March 26 to April 2.
Background on the selection President Trump, D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the location last year. D.C. last hosted the draft in 1940 at the Willard Hotel. The league has rotated the event among cities since 2015 after holding it in New York for fifty consecutive years through 2014. Pittsburgh drew a record 805,000 fans this past April.
Other events planned for the capital The UFC staged fights on the White House lawn earlier this month. The IndyCar series will hold a grand prix on streets near the National Mall in August.
Stadium project timeline D.C. will host the draft three years before the Washington Commanders return to the district. Construction on a new stadium in southeast D.C. is scheduled to begin later this year. The $4 billion project will replace Robert F.
Kennedy Memorial Stadium, where the team played from 1961 to 1996. The Commanders will contribute $2.7 billion; D.C. will provide $1.147 billion for retail, restaurants and a multisport complex. The team and design firm HKS released initial renderings in January.
The venue is planned to seat more than 70,000 spectators.
