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Report: Minneapolis In the Mix to Host NFL Combine in Future

Something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Will Ragatz|
Report: Minneapolis In the Mix to Host NFL Combine in Future
Report: Minneapolis In the Mix to Host NFL Combine in Future

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Minnesota Vikings

Minneapolis is one of several cities in the mix to host the NFL scouting combine in the future, according to Paul Kuharsky. Officials from Nashville, Las Vegas, and Phoenix were also recently hosted by the league in Indianapolis on a visit to discuss the future of the event.

The combine has been in Indy for nearly 40 years, but the city's deal with the league is set to expire after 2025. That means it's possible the event could happen elsewhere as soon as 2026, although Indianapolis will try to prevent that from occurring.

Minneapolis being part of a small group of potential new host cities indicates that the league believes it has the infrastructure to be a good combine location, in the event that it gets moved from Indy. U.S. Bank Stadium, which was opened in 2016, is consistently rated as one of the best venues in the NFL, if not the very best. It's a state of the art facility that is right in downtown Minneapolis, which is key.

About a mile away from U.S. Bank Stadium is the Minneapolis Convention Center, which would likely be a big part in a potential NFL combine, much like the current version is based out of the Indiana Convention Center. There are plenty of quality hotels and restaurants downtown, as well.

The big issue — and the reason why cities like Nashville, Las Vegas, and Phoenix might make more sense — is probably the weather. People complained about the cold February temperatures when Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2018. It's been an unseasonably warm winter in Minnesota, but that would be hard to rely on. Then again, Indianapolis is a midwestern city not exactly known for warm temperatures.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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