Embedded Files
From History to Host City:
April 24, 2025
Hold onto your cheeseheads, for the first time, the 2025 NFL Draft is set to be hosted right in Titletown this April. That’s right, you have the opportunity to travel to the heart of Northeastern Wisconsin for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in watching the future of the NFL unfold, in addition to new stories and faces that will set the scene for the 2025-26 season.
For people in our community, from students to business owners, this is a huge deal. Did you know that Green Bay is the smallest US city to host the draft? With an estimated 240,000 to 300,000 people projected to be in attendance, it is expected to be the largest event held in Green Bay to date.
Whether you’re a football fan of any kind or just looking for something to do for a weekend, the draft in Green Bay will be a unique and memorable experience you’re not going to want to miss. I understand there might be a lot of pressing questions on your mind, like how the area is preparing for the influx of people, or what kind of festivities to expect
Maybe you’re wondering what the draft even is, and why it is just now visiting Green Bay. There are many traditions among families at home and players, so how will America’s Dairyland put their spin on a timeless event like the historic NFL Draft?
Fortunately, you came to the right place. I’m here today to give you the ins and outs of preparing for the big stage. However, to get yourself set and ready for the future, we first have to take a trip back to the past.
History of the NFL Draft
Just 15 years after the NFL was established, Philadelphia Eagles co-owner Bert Bell was at a league meeting when he proposed that the NFL take on a new way to bring in new talent– by hosting its first-ever draft. The reasoning behind this is quite simple: the waiver system previously available gave unfair advantages to teams with more resources. Now, by no means does having the draft annually guarantee that talent will be evenly distributed across the league, however, it begins to even the playing field, while limiting teams from being able to just sign anyone and create superteams.
To be expected, the first ever NFL Draft was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1936. Historically, the city of Philadelphia has hosted the draft six times since the tradition began, but it is no stranger to the state of Pennsylvania, since the draft has also been held in Pittsburgh in 1948, and will make its way back to Steel City in 2026. Contrary to what you might think, the NFL draft does not, in fact, make its way to every team’s hometown. Before 2018, the event was hosted in bigger cities -- Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York being the main culprits.
Sure, the 2018 Draft held in Arlington, Texas, opened the door for many alternate locations such as Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Detroit. But large-scale events like this one face cities with logistical challenges that take years of preparation and commitment. Finding a venue big enough to comfortably accommodate all attendees, transportation, hotels, and the list goes on, of things that need to be carefully considered while planning.
Why Wisconsin?
Although the 2025 NFL Draft is brand new to Green Bay, you might be surprised to know that this is its second time in Wisconsin. If you take a trip back to just the fifth draft ever, it was actually held in downtown Milwaukee at what is today known as the Hilton Milwaukee. But why?
Packers head coach at the time, Curly Lambeau, vouched for the 1939 Championship game to be played in Milwaukee at State Fair Park in a meeting, which led to the 1940 season draft being held just a day before, on December 9, 1939. The Packers did show interest in hosting again, putting their first bid in in 2016, but the idea ended up being scratched with the pandemic. Nevertheless, just 85 years later, the NFL draft is finally welcomed back to Wisconsin.
As I mentioned earlier, Green Bay is the smallest city to host the NFL draft, and despite being a location with a very rich football history, it will most likely never host a Super Bowl due to the NFL’s requirements.
According to Yahoo News, “There must be 35% as many hotel rooms as the number of seats guaranteed at Lambeau Field. With a capacity of 81,441, that means there needs to be around 28,504 hotel rooms available.”
Unfortunately, it would be a stretch to say there are even 5,000 rooms available in the city itself.
Luckily, the draft is a smaller-scale event that will be a great opportunity for Wisconsin to show off all there is to offer.
Expectations for our Community
Despite all of the excitement coming to the area, understanding that safety is a major concern of Green Bay’s community members is very important. This is no regular Packer game or community event at Lambeau, it is a big deal league-wide.
According to Richard Ryman of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, regular-season game attendance stays on average at about 78,000 fans, which ranges from 20 to 37 percent of fans being visitors. This is just a fraction of the number of people expected to be in the area come the 24th.
Community members have voiced their concerns at neighborhood meetings, giving people the opportunity to ask their questions and concerns to the local law enforcement. However, without a doubt, all of Northeastern Wisconsin police departments have been on high alert, and security will remain heavy as the draft weekend unfolds. Additionally, the safety of schools for the Green Bay-Ashwaubenon has been taken into heavy consideration, and most classes have been canceled for the duration of the big event.
With that being said, many positive expectations could very well outweigh the skepticism; after all, the tourist information center Discover Green Bay estimates there to be an economic impact of $20 million in the area alone. Not only that, but statewide economic expectations sit at $94 million! It is a great opportunity for local vendors and businesses, big or small, across Wisconsin to network, advertise, and get involved with the draft festivities.
The Final Rundown
If you are planning on attending the draft, you may be wondering what you can expect. As you may know, the draft is free for all to attend, however, the draft theater does require a VIP pass and has limited seating and standing space that will open to others as space allows.
On Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, draft experience hours will run from 12 to 10 pm, and Saturday, April 26, hours range from 9 am to 6 pm. Day one consists solely of round 1, day two is when rounds 2 and 3 take place, and the third day wraps up with rounds 4 through 7.
Over the course of these three days, there will be lots of good old Wisconsin-rooted fun. A full itinerary can be found on NFL One Pass or Discover Green Bay, where you will find endless lists of ways to spend your time.
Day one features the NFL Draft Red Carpet, where prospects will walk across Lambeau Field as fans can watch live from the stands. The main event for day two is a drone show, followed by day three, where Wisconsin culture and tradition will be on full display, including a bike parade for kids ages 3-14.
You can expect a high-energy crowd with lots of fan interaction. According to the official Packers website, “These interactive experiences will include team roll calls, t-shirt tosses, live fan cams, and trivia. Fans will also have the chance to win autographed footballs and helmets, participate in on-stage contests, and even enter to win Super Bowl LX tickets [along with] special guest appearances and player interviews.”
Some different things that you can attend include the Saturday farmer’s market, Uncle Mike’s Kringle tasting, a variety of marathons and 5k’s, the Booyah Battle cooking competition, live performances by the UW-Madison marching band, Oneida Nation Smoke Dancers, and Grammy winner Brad Paisley, and so much more. In addition, there will be lots of food and drink options, from supper clubs to popular restaurants, and dozens of food trucks of all varieties will be in the area.
Now is also a great time to stock up on some Packer or Draft gear for yourself or as a gift because not only does Green Bay plan to have the Pro Shop open as a part of the Draft Experience, the shelves have been stocked with new items and even some deals.
So there you have it! Titletown is primed and ready to welcome the NFL world with a mix of Wisconsin charm and an energetic NFL experience. Now that you have a taste of NFL Draft history, some background on Green Bay’s preparation, and an idea of what to expect if you’re planning to go, it is time for the main event.
The Tennessee Titans will be on the clock at 7 pm sharp Thursday night, and you’re not going to want to miss it. Whether you’re coming from near or far, with your family or friends, if you enjoy football or are just coming for the experience, the 2025 NFL Draft promises to be unforgettable.
Sources:
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-draft-locations-over-years
https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-history-of-the-draft/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-green-bay-never-likely-200739270.html
https://www.packers.com/news/5-things-learned-about-green-bay-hosting-the-2025-nfl-draft
https://www.packers.com/draft25/
https://www.nfl.com/draft/event-info/faq
By: Andi Haag
April 24, 2025
The Jay's News Nest
Page updated
Report abuse