Many fans and analysts on social media speculated that Green Bay’s infrastructure was a central part of the discussion between the NFL and the city regarding its getting to host the 2025 NFL Draft. It appears the town’s size is a small thought compared to the league’s greatest worry–money.
The size of Green Bay’s wallet mattered
The Packers play in a city of just over 100,000 residents. The draft could see anywhere from the current estimate of 240,000 to the 300,000 number that was seen in Kansas City last month. While the NFL made sure the city could accommodate that many fans, Richard Ryman with the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that money was the greatest concern of the NFL in the draft bid process.
Usually, cities bid for the right to host the draft independently of the NFL team in their municipality. Because of the unique situation of the Packers playing in a small city, the Packers became the first team in the league to be the primary driver of securing the draft on their home turf instead of relying on a local organizing body. The city and the Packers will be on the hook for $7.5 million, and the NFL needed to make sure they had a plan to come up with the cash:
“They were looking at how we were collecting funds and our donors,” said Gabrielle Dow, vice president of marketing and fan engagement for the Packers.
The Green Bay organizing committee, which includes representatives of the Packers and tourism bureau Discover Green Bay, set a budget of $7.5 million. The Packers pledged $1 million to the effort and are hoping the state will kick in another $2 million. The committee established a 501(c)(6) non-profit entity which allows tax-deductible contributions. It has pledges from other donors, but must raise about $4 million more, which the NFL apparently is confident will happen.
The Packers are investing some of their funds to make this happen. It’s cool to see how the Packers and the local community work together and support each other. But there’s nearly $6 million outstanding before the event in less than two years, even with the Packers’ $1 million contribution.
The 2025 NFL Draft will yield large economic returns
According to Molly Beck with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Green Bay Republican representatives Republican Rep. David Steffen and Sen. Robert Cowles figured the event would have a statewide economic return of $94 million.
Money from the legislature would be secured via the Wisconsin Economic Developments Corp., granting the funds to the Experience Greater Green Bay Corp. However, those funds have yet to be appropriated. Beck quoted a Wisconsin representative a little to the southwest of Titletown who oversees the state’s budget. They seemed a little more sober at the $2 million request.
“Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, who oversees the Legislature’s budget-writing committee, said the committee is “aware of the request by the Packers for the state to provide financial support for the NFL draft.”
“Conversations about this request are ongoing as part of the larger budget conversation,” Born said when asked whether the Republicans who control the budget committee plan to support including the allocation in the state budget.”
It looks like there will still be some politicking going on in the next few months. It would be hard to see the $7.5 million not being raised for the event. A return of nearly $100 million for a three-day event is too large to pass up. Folding on the NFL Draft would also be a bad look to outside tourists.
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