Ravens Insider: Baltimore looking to host NFL draft in near future, official says

[ExtremeRavens]

The Ravens have made it no secret that they want to host the NFL draft.

Terry Hasseltine, vice president of the Maryland Stadium Authority’s marketing and communications group, got an up-close look at the event last month in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which the league said was attended by 600,000 fans over the three days.

“We are only in the exploratory phase at this time,” Hasseltine said.

Pittsburgh is hosting next year’s NFL draft. Washington has already secured the rights to host the draft in 2027 on the National Mall, and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris said that he expects “over a million people” to attend.

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As a result, the state is looking to possibly host the event in 2029, 2030 or 2031, Hasseltine said at the Maryland Stadium Authority meeting on Tuesday.

The NFL draft used to be held annually at Radio City Music Hall in New York, but has moved around the country since landing in Chicago in 2015. Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Detroit have previously hosted it.

Green Bay, the NFL’s smallest market, hosted the draft last month outside historic Lambeau Field. The Buffalo Bills, who are building a new $1.7 billion stadium, have reportedly requested to host the draft in either 2028 or 2029.

The Ravens are making major renovations to M&T Bank Stadium for the next two years, so those improvements could boost the franchise’s status. Team president Sashi Brown said the Ravens will eventually make their pitch to host the event.

“We’re very interested in trying to convince the league that Baltimore is going to be the best site for the draft of all time,” Brown said at this year’s NFL owners meetings. “We’re working with the folks at the city of Baltimore and the state … but we’re a ways away before the league makes any decisions on that. It’s just on us to convince them that our city is going to the right site.”

Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.

 

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