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Now that the National Football League Draft no longer has one fixed locations, teams across the league landscape are looking to get in on some hot hosting action. Apparently, the Minnesota Vikings are no different.
According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via a link courtesy of WDAY in Fargo), the Vikings have applied to host a future NFL Draft in the Twin Cities. The event would be split between different locations, notably U.S. Bank Stadium and the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan. The latter facility is set to come online on 1 March 2018 and will replace Winter Park as the Vikings’ new base of operations.
According to Lester Bagley, the team is applying to host the draft no earlier than 2022 because it will give them a little time to breathe after U.S. Bank Stadium hosts Super Bowl LII this coming February.
“It helps us get through the Super Bowl and then turn our attention to thinking through what the logistics of an NFL draft in our market would look like,” Bagley said.
The league has not given any insight as to how it chooses locations for the draft now that it is no longer permanently based in New York. Philadelphia hosted the draft this year (and could very easily get it again in 2018), while Chicago hosted the two previous drafts. Cities such as Dallas have, apparently, also applied to host the NFL Draft in the future.
Would you go out of your way to attend the NFL Draft if it took place in the Twin Cities?