486: Lawrence Hamm Jr. on What it Takes to Host the 2027 NFL Draft in Washington D.C.

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito welcomes Lawrence Hamm Jr., Vice President of Events DC, for a conversation on how cities compete to host the biggest events in sports. Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Hamm discusses how Washington, D.C. landed the NFL Draft, why the timing aligns with the return of football to the District, and how the National Mall will serve as an iconic backdrop for one of the league’s largest traveling events. He breaks down the multi-year planning process behind hosting an event of this scale, the logistical and permitting challenges unique to D.C., and how Events DC works alongside regional partners in Maryland and Virginia to maximize impact across the DMV. Hamm also shares his path from Division I and professional basketball to Under Armour and destination marketing, and explains how a future domed stadium could unlock opportunities for Final Fours, Super Bowls, major concerts, and global events. The episode highlights the NFL’s evolution into a year-round events powerhouse and Washington’s strategy to position itself as a premier destination for sports, culture, and international engagement.Connect with Lawrence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hammjr/The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com