‘It’s more than six times the impact of one of our single games’: Green Bay will host the 2025 NFL Draft

After a nearly decade-long effort, the NFL’s smallest market will host its biggest offseason event. The NFL Draft is coming to Green Bay in 2025.

The NFL made the announcement Monday at the league’s spring meeting. In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league looks forward to working with the Packers and local tourism officials to host the draft.

“With the help of numerous local partners on the ground, our prospects and fans will be treated to an incredible week-long experience that shows off the city of Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin,” he said.

According to the Packers, the event will take place inside and around Lambeau Field and the Titletown District.

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said he’s thrilled with the news, as the event gives local leaders the opportunity to showcase the community.

“It’s really a little difficult to put into words,” he said. “The economic impact is going to be beyond anything we’ve ever seen to this point.”

In a video released by the team, Packers President Mark Murphy said the draft will bring an estimated $94 million in economic impact to the state.

“It’s more than six times the impact of one of our single games,” he said. “You’re gonna have people staying all over the state, all the way from Milwaukee up to Green Bay.”

While details of the 2025 NFL Draft are still being finalized, Packers officials say the event will be accompanied by a free three-day football festival.

“We’re honored to be entrusted to host one of the NFL’s premier events,” Brad Toll, president and CEO of Discover Green Bay, said in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with the Green Bay Packers, community leaders and our tourism partners to provide an unparalleled experience for visiting fans.”

In March, Toll told Wisconsin Public Radio his organization has been working with the Packers since 2014 to bring the draft to Green Bay.

He said representatives from Discover Green Bay and the Packers have attended the draft in different cities to learn about what hosting the event would entail.

“We’re quite confident that Green Bay could certainly do it,” Toll said.

That month, Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Packers, told the Green Bay City Council that landing the draft was the city’s opportunity to host one of the league’s premier events, like the Super Bowl or NFL Combine.

“I think there’s a romanticized view of Green Bay — richly deserved in terms of the history and tradition of pro football here,” he said. “I think the NFL knows that that would be part of the draft story in bringing the draft to a community that has the history.”