Green Bay’s Ready for Fans and Millions of Dollars at the NFL Draft

The kickoff is finally here—and the Green Bay area is ready to welcome fans, teams, and millions of dollars as host of the 2025 NFL Draft. The smallest city in the NFL is about to double in size when more than 250,000 visitors descend on the home of the Packers to witness one of football’s biggest annual events.

“The smallest NFL city, but the biggest heart,” Mayor Eric Genrich says. 

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It’s a sentiment echoing across the community, as excitement builds and the long-awaited moment arrives. The city, in partnership with the Packers and NFL Draft officials, has been fine-tuning every detail since officially being awarded the bid in 2021. But their ambition stretches back even further with potential plans in the works years prior. The team first expressed an interest in hosting the NFL Draft in 2015. The event had been in New York from 1965 through 2014, but Chicago hosted the first draft to leave the city the following year. 

NFL officials typically ask interested teams to fill out a survey and there are many rules to follow, too. The Packers hoped to be picked to host in 2018 or 2019. It would’ve been in conjunction with the opening of the Titletown district next to Lambeau Field. The team submitted the next official bid in 2020 to host the 2024 draft. Detroit earned that one. A third bid in 2021 sealed the deal. 

“Our citizens are just so excited to welcome all these guests to the city of Green Bay,” Genrich shares.

The economic impact beyond the football festivities is projected to be a game-changer. Local estimates by those with Discover Green Bay suggest a $20 million boost for the Green Bay metro area alone. Add a staggering more than $96 million ripple effect expected across the state.

And to get all those visitors, and their money, in and out of the area – additional flights have been added, shuttles and buses will be running, and neighborhoods around Lambeau Field will be allowing drivers to park their cars, just like a typical game day. 

Everyone wants it to be an event to remember. And while some activities are already underway, the player selections don’t start until Thursday night, continuing through Saturday, April 26. It’s when fans from around the country and the world will be tuning in to see Green Bay front and center on a global stage. And watching football dreams come true for all involved.