With the NFL Draft coming up later this month, Thursday, April 24 – Saturday, April 26 in Green Bay, there’s talk among residents about what to expect.
These three days will include several sponsored events free for NFL fans including concerts, interactive games, and photo ops with proof of registration with NFL OnePass.
Nearly a quarter million people are planning on attending this event, along with over another 50 million tuning in online.
Separate ticket holder perks like entrance to the Draft Theater are reserved for invited ticket holders only. All of the teams at the draft will select these invited ticket holders to attend. The Draft Theater is in the northeast parking lot of Lambeau Field and will be where they announce the Draft player selection.
As for transportation and road closures, there will be many changes for Green Bay. “Road closures before, during, and after the NFL Draft are tentatively scheduled to last six weeks,” according to FOX 11 News. The Green Bay Metro will offerfree transportation to the draft campus from Downtown and will run around every 15 minutes.
According to the 2025 NFL Draft website, “Parking will resemble game day at Lambeau Field, with local homeowners and businesses offering parking spaces near the event.” However, it is advised that residents plan accordingly, as parking may be limited.
To ensure safety for the players, and attendees, all must go through advanced security screening. A clear bag policy will also be in place. Specific size requirements can be found on the NFL Draft Policy.
Green Bay residents are advised to plan ahead and accordingly. For those attending and living in the area, now is the ideal time to develop a parking plan. In addition, traffic and road closure updates should be checked frequently.
A student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Landon Rauth, said, “I feel as if it is exciting for the city of Green Bay because it is a big accomplishment and could lead to bigger and better things coming to the area to perform, such as a super bowl or something.”
With hundreds of thousands of people traveling to a new area, there is an increased risk of criminal activity. Both locals and visitors should be aware of the possible dangers that large-scale events can bring to the area. Sex trafficking rates have been known to increase during major events.
Attendees are encouraged to stay alert and keep an eye on their families and friends. Rauth also stated, “I do believe there should be some precautions taken such as amping up the amount of patrol going round the area.”
It is also important to verify the credibility of websites used to book lodging or purchase tickets. Reports have noted individuals falling for fake listings on sites such as Airbnb. Visitors must verify its credibility by cross-checking multiple websites to make sure the listing exists. As for ticket purchases, it is recommended to buy directly through the NFL Draft website. Caution is advised when using third-party reselling applications.
Local businesses have a little bit to say about the Draft. Steve Paustenbach, a Manager at Tucson’s Southwest Bar and Grill, said, “As far as scheduling goes, we will have an extra person scheduled during the day on Thursday and Friday.” In the early stages of the Draft development, businesses were concerned, but as plans changed, so did expectations. Paustenbach also stated, “Being a restaurant on the opposite side of the city and we close before the end of the draft the first two days, we do not expect the evenings to be overly busy. We are hoping that the residents of the west side who still want to go out will avoid the west side and come over to the east side to enjoy their night out.”
Within the talk of NFL Draft expectations, this event is supposed to be filled with positive attitudes and fun experiences. Packer fans are getting amped up for the big weekend and are ready to show support for their team.