06/10/2026
The Pick Is In. Now the work begins.
Last night, Minnesota Sports and Events welcomed corporate, civic, and community leaders to celebrate the partnerships that helped bring the 2028 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light to Minnesota.
The evening featured remarks from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and three of the bid's co-chairs: Geoff Martha (Medtronic), Bob Frenzel (Xcel Energy), and Christophe Beck (Ecolab). Guests were also introduced to new Minnesota Vikings Nolan Teasley, while MNSE President and CEO Wendy Blackshaw shared updates on the vision for the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota and the opportunities ahead as planning begins.
Attendees also heard an inspiring message from Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, who reflected on the NFL Draft experience from both a player's and coach's perspective.
Most importantly, the event was an opportunity to recognize and thank the many organizations and individuals whose vision, commitment, and collaboration helped make this successful bid possible.
Bringing one of the nation's premier sporting events to Minnesota was truly a team effort. We are grateful for the partners who helped make this moment possible and excited to continue building toward 2028 as we showcase Minnesota to fans around the world.
