How the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay Showcases Wisconsin

Frederica Freyberg:
In other news, the eyes of the sporting world are on Green Bay this weekend as the Packers host the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. “Here & Now” senior political reporter Zac Schultz was there for the first day of the draft and tells us the state hopes the economic impact will be felt for years to come.

Roger Goodell:
Okay. Welcome to the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Zac Schultz:
When the National Football League announced the Green Bay Packers would host the 2025 NFL Draft, there was little doubt Packers fans would show up. A party in the shadow of Lambeau Field, with no cost to get in. By the end of the night, the NFL announced attendance on the first day hit 205,000 people.

Anne Sayers:
The draft is really like an all-eyes-on-us moment for Wisconsin, and that’s really important because we are turning football fans into Wisconsin fans.

Zac Schultz:
Anne Sayers is Wisconsin’s tourism secretary, and she knows not all of these football fans are local. We saw jerseys representing all 32 teams in the league, and even some of those wearing Packers’ jerseys traveled from out of state. Wisconsin spent more than $2 million to help prepare for and promote the event.

Anne Sayers:
We have been preparing for a long time. We knew we could do it. And so I think people are going to have a seamless experience, and that’s what it’s all about.

Aaron Leonard:
We booked an Airbnb in Appleton like a year ago.

Zac Schultz:
Aaron and Tricia Leonard traveled from Illinois with their two young children. They were surprised to find activities for their kids throughout the day, like this football skills event.

Boy:
I was just thinking about like, I was doing pretty good.

Aaron Leonard:
Yeah, it’s been a great experience, especially for a five and soon to be three-year-old. It’s been great for the kids.

Zac Schultz:
The Leonards have been to Green Bay for games before, but for others, this trip was a first.

Man:
This is awesome. I’ve seen people from every fan base. It’s a beautiful area. Hotels are nice.

Johnathan Grubbs:
I would love to come back to watch a Packers’ game at some time. That’s on my bucket list.

Zac Schultz:
Wisconsin is on a hot streak when it comes to hosting large events, and Sayers says the key is turning those visitors into repeat customers.

Anne Sayers:
I think we’re making an impression. You know, we hosted the RNC. We are now hosting the draft. We were showcased through Top Chef just recently. We have a lot of marquee moments happening in golf. We were welcoming Indy Car back, and I think it’s just showing like, yeah, Wisconsin can do this. We can absolutely host. People can have a great time. They go home with stories. They actually want to come back for their family vacations. That’s what it’s all about.

Heidi Wallace:
Just to drive up here too it was kind of cool to look at, you know, all the things that we could do. You know, we thought maybe we’ll bring our kids here. Maybe we’ll do this, maybe we’ll do that.

Zac Schultz:
While a cloudy day in April may not show off Wisconsin at its best, the food is always good, and there were long lines for standards like burgers and cheese curds. But also food trucks like the Frybread Shack.

Ezra Leoso:
Frybread is our special recipe that we make with our dough.

Zac Schultz:
Ezra Leoso and his team are from the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa.

Ezra Leoso:
We’re an Indigenous food truck. There’s not too many Indigenous foods out there, so it means a lot. And we’re very honored to be out here representing on behalf of Native Americans across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan. We’re from northern Wisconsin, the Bad River reservation. So we’re very honored to be a part of this and to be accepted in here and share a little bit of our culture with everyone.

Anne Sayers:
We are showcasing our amazing culinary food traditions, our outdoor recreation, which is world class, our unique accommodations, our unexpected attractions. So many of these things that we know travelers are looking for. We have it in Wisconsin and the draft is just giving us a stage to show it all off.

Zac Schultz:
The NFL Draft is one of those rare sporting events where every fan can walk away happy. None more so than the crowd of Packers fans when the team finally made their selection.

Announcer:
The 13-time world champion Green Bay Packers draft Matthew Golden, wide receiver, Texas.

Crowd:
Go Pack go!

Zac Schultz:
Reporting from Green Bay. I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”