Feb 10, 2025, 7:01 AM CST
GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – NFL Draft 2025, working together with neighboring communities, coal piles, and making sure there is enough housing for residents who want and need it, these are all issues that take up the time, energy, and attention of Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich says he has a conversation nearly every day about the upcoming NFL Draft. Those conversations are with members of city staff, community members, or leaders from other cities in the Greater Green Bay Area.
Genrich says Green Bay Police and Fire Departments, not to mention the transportation system, are working full force to prepare for the influx of visitors to the city.
”I don’t have any big concerns. I mean, one thing that I think still needs to get squared away is how people are going to move throughout the community. I mentioned that Patty Kiewiz, who runs our transit service here within the city of Green Bay, does a fantastic job. She has a really good plan, but we have an undersized transit system in comparison to Detroit or Kansas City or some of these other communities,” Genrich said. “So we’re going to be waiting for some more detailed plans from the NFL talking about how they’re going to get people throughout the community.”
Visitors to Green Bay for NFL Draft 2025 will experience more than just Lambeau Field.
“That’s really I think our biggest responsibility is making sure that we’re not at all competing when draft programming itself is happening over at Lambeau Field. But we’re creating collaborative complimentary events that people can enjoy. When we’re here pulling people downtown, making sure they see Military Avenue, Business Improvement Districts on the East side, Main Street, and even University Avenue, the entirety of the community sees some kind of benefit from this great event.”
While the NFL Draft is taking place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay city limits, many of the activities are going to spread to neighboring areas.
“ I think there’s going to be enough to go around. Certainly most of our conversations have been with the Village of Ashwaubenon and the county. Those are kind of the three biggest entities that connect especially over at Lambeau Field. But, you know, I think it’s going to be of benefit to everybody.”
The housing crisis in Wisconsin affects families of all types. Working families, low-income families, and those who seek more luxury accommodations.
Development is happening in the Greater Green Bay Area to fill those needs. Genrich said one of the problems the city has faced deals with the way the population has grown.
“One of the issues that we see, not just in Green Bay, but everywhere,” he said, “Is the reduction of household size. So you need more units to actually house the same number of people.”
Genrich says that the Greater Green Bay area is very competitive for housing prices and the cost of living. New houses, condos, and apartment buildings are being planned, not just in Green Bay but in the communities surrounding it.
“There’s a great relationship that exists, a symbiotic relationship, between suburbs and urban centers like ours,” he said.
One issue that has plagued Green Bay mayors for years is the large coal piles on the waterfront. Genrich says he is still working with different parties to move the piles out of what would be prime commercial real estate.
“We have not thrown in the towel yet. We’re still working with C. Reiss, in conversation with Troy (Streckenbach, Brown County Executive) and some other folks at the county to see if we can’t still get this deal done,” Genrich said. “The stars have gotten as close to aligning as we’ve ever seen with Pulliam (power plant site) being vacated and all of that. And $15 million is being appropriated by the state to make this happen. We just have got to get it done.”
Eric Genrich was a guest on Civic Media’s Lean Local with Jim Schmitt, airing Sundays on WGBW. Find it at Civic Media.us.
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