As I am sure all of you are aware at this point, Green Bay will host the 2025 NFL Draft. It is the first time that Titletown will play host to the NFL Draft and only the second time that the NFL Draft has been in Wisconsin, with the other time being in Milwaukee in December 1939 at the then-Schroeder Hotel (now known as Hilton Milwaukee City Center on West Wisconsin Ave.).

While nothing will top being awarded a Super Bowl, the NFL Draft is the next best thing in the NFL world – and for good reason. It is estimated that hosting the draft will provide $94 million in economic impact to the state of Wisconsin and $20 million locally. It is also estimated that 240,000 people will attend the 2025 NFL Draft. Green Bay, with a population of roughly 107,000, is the smallest city with an NFL team and one of the smallest cities that houses a professional sports team. 

Who is responsible for organizing the draft? 

Historically, state tourism entities and local sports commissions have largely handled the logistics and organized the NFL Draft. However, as team vice president of marketing and fan engagement Gabrielle Dow acknowledged, the NFL will lead the way this time around, with Experience Greater Green Bay Corporation/Discover Green Bay, the Green Bay Packers, and local governmental entities assisting. 

Wisconsin loves its food. What food options will be available? 

While I’m sure local and statewide residents would love for the state’s staple eateries to be featured as official vendors throughout the draft weekend on the draft premises, the NFL selects the food vendors and restaurants after an application process, at least based on how the league previously handled it. The establishments had to meet the following criteria for the 2023 NFL Draft, which took place in Kansas City, Missouri. 

• Be 51% owned by a minority, woman, veteran, or LGBTQ+ individual and be certified
• Have a physical office and been in operation in Kansas City, MO since April 2019
• Provide a product or service requested by Business Connect
• Be the direct source of the goods and services you propose to sell
• Be in good standing and eligible to do business in Kansas City and the state of Missouri

Since the news was announced, a popular buzzword tossed around has been infrastructure. Do the Packers have the requisite infrastructure?

Awarding an NFL city the right to host the NFL Draft is not a charity case, so yes, the Packers have the requisite infrastructure. According to the team website, "the Packers have developed their own plans for a 'Lambeau Field Campus,' that'll span across Lambeau Field, Titletown, Resch Expo and Resch Center. It'll house the main media stage, NFL Experience, green room, red carpet, media center, and fan areas. The new 12,500-square-foot visitors center near Interstate 41 and Lombardi Avenue is also expected to be completed by then."

How much money will it cost? 

Hosting the draft will not be cheap. The endeavor has a budget of $7.5 million, and it is possible that the next two-year Wisconsin state budget sets aside $2 million to cover a portion of the associated costs. The latter “would require the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to provide a grant to the Experience Greater Green Bay Corp.,” according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Molly Beck. The Packers have contributed at least $1 million and the Lambeau Field Stadium District have pledged to contribute, per Packers.com. Team president Mark Murphy said the team will not make money by hosting. 

Who will cover the remaining costs remains to be seen. Based on previous drafts, the money will come from the city of Green Bay, private fundraising, and/or philanthropic donations. 

“We don't write the NFL a check,” Greater Cleveland Sports Commission CEO David Gilbert told 3News (WKYC) in 2021, ahead of the NFL Draft that Cleveland hosted. “It's all things that the community provides. Rent...safety and security and marketing and signage, and lots of different stuff. I haven't seen [the NFL's] numbers, but it's tens of millions of dollars that the NFL spends in their production.”