NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With the 2025 NFL Draft in April expected to draw in crowds of up to 250,000 people, the Packers and Wisconsin tourism officials are working to prepare businesses across the state for the influx.
They made stops in Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee and, on Wednesday, a Best Western Convention Center in Neenah.
Aaron Popkey with the Packers said, “We know the Draft is going to have a tremendous impact certainly in Northeastern Wisconsin and in Green Bay, but outside of that area, the impact will be included. Certainly, from hospitality and with hotels and restaurants, we know fans will be staying outside of Green Bay.”
Melissa Sable with Travel Wisconsin told FOX 11 they toured the state to share with businesses what they can expect when the Draft comes next year.
“The economic impact that those travelers will be coming, through Wisconsin, again, geographically when you think about where Green Bay is, people have to travel up through the state on the primary corridors and will be passing through a lot of the primary destinations,” she said.
Sable said that with neighboring states like Minnesota and Illinois having their own massive football fanbases, Wisconsinites will be seeing plenty of road travel, and stops at local businesses. “Add on to that you have the next layer of, what an icon Lambeau Field is. And it’s really that it has something special,” she said.
The estimated economic impact to Green Bay is $20 million, and $94 million across Wisconsin.
Popkey said with that kind of impact, businesses need to be ready to welcome guests.
“We want businesses to be able to use their tools, and a lot of that is with some social media, so we’ve got ideas on what types of posts to do, and what type of social media to do, beautifying their businesses, beautifying their communities. Really just making sure that welcome mat is out,” he said.
Popkey added that they also aim to draw visitors back after the Draft is over, whether it be another vacation or looking for a new home.
Comments