The NFL Scouting Combine will remain in Indianapolis for 2023 and 2024, the league announced Tuesday. Indianapolis has hosted the league’s annual event since 1987.

This was the first time cities could bid for the combine, a process similar to the one for other League events including Super Bowl and NFL Draft. The official bid process for combine started in Dec. 2021, with proposals due in April 2022. Cities like Dallas, Los Angeles and others have been floated as possibilities.

“After close review by our internal team, the fan engagement and major events advisory committee, and the national invitational camp staff, Indianapolis remains the best city to host and grow the NFL combine in 2023 and 2024,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business and league events. “Indy’s vision brings together its long legacy of successfully hosting the combine and executing the evaluation process, with an exciting focus on innovating and further growing the event from a fan and media perspective.”

Colts owner Jim Irsay added: “Indy is a city built to host major sporting events, and I’m proud the combine will continue to stay in our city.”

A couple of highlights of Indy’s bid include:

• A new combine fan experience outside Lucas Oil Stadium for fans to enjoy prior to stepping inside Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the on-field workouts.
• A new legacy program focused on mental health, led by the Irsay Family and their “Kicking the Stigma” program, benefiting Indy residents.

The 2023 combine will take place Tuesday, Feb. 28 – Monday, March 6. The 2024 combine will take place Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Monday, March 4.

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Why has Indianapolis worked so well as the host?

Lindsay Jones, national NFL writer: First, they’ve had 35 years to get it right. But more than that, Indianapolis’ compact downtown, with ample hotel and meeting room space and easy access to Lucas Oil Stadium, makes it an ideal location for an event like the combine, where so many different things are happening at once. What fans see on TV with the workouts is just a small part of the combine, and the ability to have all of the medical exams, prospect interviews and league meetings within a few block radius just makes sense from a football standpoint.

How much competition was there to host the combine?

Dan Kaplan, NFL business writer: The competition to host the combine was always exaggerated. Dallas was the only real threat with LA’s interest overstated, but AT&T Stadium was not available for the combine in 2023 and 2024 which was a big knock against the Dallas bid. Indy doing such a great job again this last go around cemented the deal. When it comes to off-season NFL events, the Draft remains the prized plum and the combine is in the rear view mirror.