NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated that Charlotte possesses the qualities to host an NFL Draft and suggested the city could be a candidate for a future Super Bowl. Speaking at an event hosted by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, Goodell remarked on the evolving downtown area and infrastructure.
"This is built for a draft," Goodell stated, referencing Charlotte's potential. He also noted the increasing scale of the NFL Draft, which has transitioned from indoor events to large outdoor spectacles attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees. The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled for Washington D.C., followed by Minneapolis in 2028, making 2029 the earliest realistic target for Charlotte if it pursues the event.
The NFL Draft has seen significant growth, with the 2017 event in Philadelphia drawing 205,000 people. This year's draft in Pittsburgh reportedly set a record with 805,000 attendees.
While Goodell expressed optimism about Charlotte's suitability for the draft, he addressed the prospect of hosting a Super Bowl, noting that the city continues to grow. He specifically pointed to the need for a sufficient number of hotel rooms and other facilities, which are critical for Super Bowl hosting. The number of required hotel rooms has increased significantly over the years, with current estimates suggesting a need for 60,000 to 75,000 rooms.
Charlotte currently has approximately 50,000 hotel rooms, though many are located outside the immediate downtown area. Tepper, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, has expressed a strong desire to bring a Super Bowl to Charlotte, highlighting the city's location, transportation infrastructure, and a high concentration of affluent households.
"It would be great to get into the Super Bowl here. It might be great if we had a Super Bowl here," Tepper said. He also mentioned Charlotte's position as a major East Coast hub with one of the country's busiest airports.
Goodell acknowledged the city's development, stating, "As far as the Super Bowl is concerned, there is no question in that the city keeps growing the way it is. It's really the stadium and the facility here is wonderful, and it's certainly Super Bowl quality." He added, "And so, I think that as growth continues, I think, you know, that's probably somewhere down the line in the future."