Washington Commanders to host 2027 NFL Draft in D.C.
The Washington Commanders will be taking center stage in 2027 as the team gets ready to host that year’s NFL Draft. We had previously heard rumblings coming out of the White House about Donald Trump wanting to hold an upcoming NFL Draft in D.C., and on May 5, 2025, the National Football League announced that the 2027 NFL Draft will indeed go down in the nations’ capital.
The 2027 NFL Draft will take place across the District’s most iconic landmarks, including the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, placing the U.S. capital at the center of America’s most celebrated sport – hosted in partnership and coordination with the Washington Commanders, Events DC, and D.C.’s Mayor Bowser.
The announcement was made on May 5 in the Oval Office along with Donald Trump.
“The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “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 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, D.C. will host a slate of Draft activities, including a variety of community events, the Draft Concert Series and the NFL Draft Experience – the ultimate free fan festival. that invites fans to participate in immersive exhibits, challenge their skills in interactive games, take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy; enjoy the youth-focused Play 60 Zone; shop exclusive NFL merchandise; and score autographs from current players and Legends.
What might have been a straightforward proclamation involving the NFL’s top executive, a billionaire team owner and a triumphant politician, though, was hosted by President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, leaving Goodell, Harris and Bowser to wait through questions on movie tariffs, Trump’s desire to reopen a federal penitentiary on Alcatraz and the reaction to an image posted on his Truth Social account of him dressed as the Pope.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Trump said. “It’s going to be something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate, I don’t suspect.” ~The Washington Post
Since 2015, the NFL Draft has continued to grow as one of the most-watched events in sports, with over 3.5 million fans attending festivities in person. The 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit attracted a record-breaking 775,000 fans. Most recently, more than 600,000 fans attended the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, matching Nashville’s record in 2019 for the second-highest attendance in Draft history.
Following yesterday’s announcement, USA Today reminded us that the National Mall, which can hold more than 1 million people, is flanked by the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol, creating opportunities for dramatic visuals behind the draft stage.
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NFL Draft Location History
| Draft | Location | City |
| 1936 | Ritz-Carlton | Philadelphia |
| 1937 | Hotel Lincoln | New York |
| 1938 | Hotel Sherman | Chicago |
| 1939 | Hotel New Yorker | New York |
| 1940 | Schroeder Hotel | Milwaukee |
| 1941 | Willard Hotel | Washington, D.C. |
| 1942-44 | Palmer House | Chicago |
| 1945-47 | Hotel Commodore | New York |
| 1948 | Hotel Fort Pitt | Pittsburgh |
| 1949-50 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1951 | Blackstone Hotel | Chicago |
| 1952 | Hotel Statler | New York |
| 1953-54 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1955 | Warwick Hotel | New York |
| 1956 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 1-3) | Philadelphia |
| | Ambassador Hotel (Rounds 4-30) | Los Angeles |
| 1957 | Warwick Hotel (Rounds 1-4) | Philadelphia |
| | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 5-30) | Philadelphia |
| 1958-61 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1962-64 | Sheraton Hotel | Chicago |
| 1965-66 | Summit Hotel | New York |
| 1967 | Hotel Gotham | New York |
| 1968-71 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York |
| 1972 | Essex House | New York |
| 1973-74 | Americana Hotel | New York |
| 1975 | Hilton Hotel | New York |
| 1976-78 | Roosevelt Hotel | New York |
| 1979 | Waldorf | New York |
| 1980-83 | Sheraton Hotel | New York |
| 1984-85 | Omni Park Central Hotel | New York |
| 1986-94 | Marriott Marquis | New York |
| 1995-2004 | Theatre at Madison Square Garden | New York |
| 2005 | Jacob Javits Convention Center | New York |
| 2006-2014 | Radio City Music Hall | New York |
| 2015-16 | Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University / Grant Park | Chicago |
| 2017 | Benjamin Franklin Parkway | Philadelphia |
| 2018 | AT&T Stadium | Dallas |
| 2019 | Downtown Nashville | Nashville |
| 2020 | Remote | Remote |
| 2021 | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Strip & Caesars Forum | Las Vegas |
| 2023 | Downtown Kansas City | Kansas City |
| 2024 | Downtown Detroit | Detroit |
| 2025 | Lambeau Field and Titletown | Green Bay |
| 2026 | Point State Park & Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh |
| 2027 | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. |
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(Source: NFL)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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