NFL Draft 2025 Is Just Days Away

GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – It’s been 10 years since the Green Bay Packers first told the NFL they wanted to host a draft event at Lambeau. Now, the entire state of Wisconsin is gearing up for the throngs of people expected in the Greater Green Bay Area for NFL Draft 2025 next week.

“September 30th, we had submitted – 2015 – our first survey of interest for the NFL Draft,” said Aaron Popkey, Director of Public Affairs for the Green Bay Packers. “Mark Murphy said, ‘Hey! We need to do this.’ So it’s been, literally, going back to Fall of 2015 where we’ve been thinking about it. Fast forward to April of 2025 to see the campus being built out in the last couple of weeks, has been amazing.” 

The NFL Draft 2025 kicks off on Thursday, April 24th, and continues through Saturday, April 26th. Popkey says it’s been a long time coming.

“ It’s just exciting to have it be here. We unveiled a countdown clock last May, it was 345 days out. I remember looking at the countdown clock and saying, ‘Holy smokes! We got some time!’ And now going into the office every day–seeing that, and it’s down into the double digits. It’s on top of us.” 

Uniquely Green Bay

Popkey said that the NFL Draft is coming to Green Bay, not just because of the Packers, but also because of the efforts of Discover Green Bay and PMI, the organization that manages the Resch Center across the street from Lambeau, which will also be used for supporting the Draft activities.

“So it really was a team effort. The NFL team typically hasn’t gotten that involved– More the CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau), but because of our unique community – We don’t have the size and scope that the larger ones do – It had to be a unique team that got put together. And we knew we had to lead the effort. We put together our host committee, which raised the money. The Packers are in for a lot of cash and a lot of in-kind. So, big team effort.” 

Popkey said they are leaning on Packers traditions to make the event uniquely Green Bay and different from other NFL Drafts.

“Saturday morning at 8:00 AM leaning into the unique traditions of Green Bay and the Packers, the bike kids. You know that tradition that goes back to 58. That was part of our bid process. Just the Saturday morning. We’re gonna do a bike parade through the draft campus,” Popkey enthused. 

Those Green Bay traditions and the energy of Lambeau Field were key in bringing the NFL Draft to town.

“ I think just what Lambeau Field means to football fans! It’s often spoken of as the mecca. It’s on a bucket list – those types of things,” Popkey explained. “And I think the NFL really liked the idea of incorporating Lambeau into this. ‘Cause they can lean into the history– The tradition – We often hear if we’re not someone’s favorite team, we’re their second favorite team!” 

Football Mania

The NFL Draft 2025 is expected to attract over 250,000 people to the Greater Green Bay Area, but Popkey doesn’t want that to deter locals from enjoying the excitement and energy of the draft experience.

“ People are concerned about construction. Yeah, you gotta take some different routes and detours. Even the businesses that are right there near the draft, uh, they’re still gonna be open. They’re still open,” Popkey said. “You just gotta take a different route to get in there. Please still go and visit those businesses that you always visit, but just check in to make sure you’re getting there the right way.”  

Popkey said that the Draft Theatre, Draft Campus and Draft Experience will offer a variety of activities across a wide area in Green Bay and Ashwaubenon. The activities will appeal to all ages.

 ”The theater’s on Oneida Street, on the east side in that parking lot.  But across the north end of Lambeau Field, over to the West side parking lot, into Titletown is the Draft Experience.  Lambeau Field’s gonna be part of the campus. So I think for people that are gonna come and just walk around and soak up the energy. You can watch the draft in the theater, you know, straight on that huge structure. But then you go into the Lambeau Field, and you can sit inside of Lambeau. Sit in the bowl and watch the draft on the screens,” Popkey said. “Then you can wander over and into the Draft Experience on the west side–over into Titletown. There’s gonna be big screens up everywhere. Food, beverage, activities, autographs, all sorts of stuff for the kids and adults.” 

Where to get NFL Draft 2025 info

Download One Pass for schedules, tickets, and all the information you need about the NFL Draft 2025 activities in the Lambeau Field and Titletown area.

Popkey was a guest on Civic Media’s Maino and the Mayor Show this week.