Green Bay is now officially on the clock

With the NFL Draft in Detroit ending a week ago, the focus turns to Green Bay and the 2025 NFL Draft. We are now officially on the clock. We will have a draft countdown clock in the Atrium that will be unveiled later this month, as part of a draft handoff between Michigan and Wisconsin.

The NFL Draft has evolved into a major event over the years. Detroit set an attendance record with more than 700,000 people over the three days. It is a major challenge to manage an event that size, and Detroit did an excellent job. We sent over 30 people to Detroit to observe the draft, including people from the Packers, Delaware North (our concessionaire), Discover Green Bay, as well as local police and fire department employees and elected officials. They all learned a lot and were able to meet with league employees who run the draft.

We are excited about hosting the draft next year. It will be the biggest event ever held in Green Bay, and Green Bay will be, by far, the smallest community to host the draft in the modern era. The draft will serve as a three-day commercial for Green Bay and the entire state of Wisconsin. It will be a tremendous opportunity for people across the world to see what a great place Green Bay is to live, work and visit.

Now, on to your questions.

After just attending the NFL Draft in Detroit I have the following questions: 1. How much input do the Packers get in the setup of the draft? 2. Would the team consider using Lambeau as the hub of the actual draft if allowed?

That’s great that you were able to attend the draft in Detroit. In response to your questions, the draft is the league’s event. We will have input, but the league will have the final say. Our setup in Green Bay will be very unique. Since the league began hosting the draft in cities across the league, most of the drafts have been held in the city’s downtown areas, separate from the team’s stadium and practice facilities. In Green Bay, we anticipate that the stage will be placed outside the stadium. Since the stage will be so close to Lambeau Field, we expect fans will also plan to visit and experience the stadium while watching the draft.

I love watching the NFL Draft. My favorite parts are when they show players at home with their family members. It’s great drama – seeing their anxiousness as they wait for the call and then the relief when they are final drafted. What was your draft day…