A Fan’s Experience at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis

The 2026 NFL Combine has come to an end in Indianapolis, and next up will be Pro Days. But first, I want to tell you a little about MY experience at the combine this year.

This is Year 3 that I have been invited to attend the combine as a representative of Women of Fantasy Football. Stacy Perez and Amber Phillips were on the team with me last weekend, and they both slayed it! I was in awe watching their social media skills, but more importantly, their hard work and dedication to producing the best content possible for you: their supporters, their family and friends, their subscribers and followers. 

Since the professionals have the actual combine covered, I wanted to give some details about the overall experience of attending the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. If you have never gone to an NFL Combine or have no idea why families would attend, then this article is for you.  

The NFL Combine Fan Experience

Indianapolis has hosted the combine since 1987 and is laid out pretty perfectly. The convention center is only a 15-minute walk from Lucas Oil Stadium, and there are plenty of hotels nearby. Indy is just big enough, but also just small enough! You can get to a lot of places by walking (some short walks and some long), but if the weather is bad or you cannot walk, there are Ubers-a-plenty!  

The NFL Fan Zone is outside of the stadium, so the weather can definitely be a factor. Last year, the weather forced everything to be shut down, which was a total bummer! This year it was really nice, so I got to experience the whole thing. The first year I went to the combine, I was very overwhelmed and just brushed through there a couple of times. Don’t make that mistake.

It was such a great time! If you plan to go into the stadium, make sure you check the scheduled hours so you don’t miss anything. Leave yourself enough time to take in this experience. And, yes, that does include some longer lines for the more popular events. Don’tworry, though, they have combine coverage on the big screen while you wait!  

Here is some video I captured, and a HUGE shoutout to Brittney Foxworth for all the editing!

Something For Everybody

They have a mini combine/obstacle course set up from the 40-yard dash to the vertical/broad jump to kicking a field goal! They also have oversized helmets of all 32 teams. These helmets are really great photo ops for your favorite or not-so-favorite teams! I may or may not have given the Green Bay Packers helmet a thumbs-down. (I did…)  Download the app for other photo ops in and around the stadium. 

I saw daughters racing their dads, sisters racing their brothers, moms kicking field goals, girls lifting weights, and throwing balls. It was really enlightening. Especially if you’ve been stuck inside with the lousy weather this winter. The fresh air felt good!  

Fans could take photos with the Colts’Super Bowl XLI Vince Lombardi Trophy and the Heisman Trophy, and view all 59 Super Bowl rings up close, too! There were all kinds of fun fan experiences inside the stadium, along with appearances by former players.  

There were fans of ALL teams. Everyone was having a great time and enjoying what the host city of Indianapolis, the NFL, and the athletes had prepared for all year. There are so many things to do before and after the combine. We met friends for lunch. We went to an Indy Fuel semi-pro hockey game on Saturday night thanks to their play-by-play announcer, Eva Hallman. Talk about a ROCK STAR! Eva was introduced to me in my first year at the combine by Joe Zollo from ClubFantasyFFL. She is now a full-time announcer for the Fuel at the Fishers Event Center. It is a great venue about a half hour from downtown. 

I’m not saying you should sell the farm to attend the combine. (Pun intended)  However, if you have thought about it but wanted to make sure your family or friends would have fun, too, then I hope this helped! 

Tickets to the NFL Combine are free, but you must register for them. Indianapolis is the host city through 2028.

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