GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Because of Monday’s rain, the public appearance by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in Green Bay took place indoors.
The event was held at the Johnsonville Tailgate Village, east of Lambeau Field.
“With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the NFL selects Green Bay, Wisconsin,” said Goodell while speaking to the crowd.
Goodell spoke about Green Bay’s selection to host the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I can’t think of a better place to be able to do that than right here in really what is the heart of football,” said Goodell.
Despite the rain, Packers fans from all over the area still made their way to Titletown.
“When I heard about this last night I had to be here and meet Roger Goodell and have fun with the draft,” said Christopher Handler, a Packers fan.
Football fans were ecstatic about the commissioner’s visit and the draft coming to Green Bay.
“It’s really strange to see him come to such a small market, I’m just so excited I can’t wait,” said Caden Sunila, a Packers fan.
“It’s an exhilarating experience for sure, I mean it’s the second best thing to having a Super Bowl here,” said Tyler Herrick, another Packers fan.
Green Bay Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy, Gov. Tony Evers, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, and other community leaders also attended.
“We’ve been counting down, we’re about 20 months now where we’re going to be hosting, just tremendous,” said Murphy.
Murphy says the 2025 NFL Draft will bring a $94 million economic impact statewide, with $20 million of that in Green Bay.
“It’s going to attract just under a quarter million people,” said Murphy. “We estimate right around 240,000 people in Green Bay and Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin tourism generated $23.7 billion in total economic impact in 2022, surpassing the state’s previous record set in 2019 at $22.2 billion.
“We’re just coming off a record breaking year for Wisconsin tourism and with folks and events like this, we’re not taking our foot off the gas anytime soon,” said Evers.
Murphy says the draft will also be an opportunity to showcase the world what Green Bay has to offer.
“On TV, it’ll be over 54 million viewers watching,” he said.
“That’s an opportunity for us as a state, but more importantly as a region, selfishly Brown County to really promote why moving here, living here or visiting here is a great experience,” said Streckenbach.
But Goodell says that viewership number will likely be higher.
“Mark said 54 million, so I’m going to put the gauntlet down now. We have been getting closer to 70 recently, so we want to see the Green Bay Super Bowl get 70 million, excuse me, the NFL Draft,” he said, followed by some claps and laughs from the crowd.
“Hey! You just got yourself a Super Bowl,” laughed Goodell.
Meanwhile, Monday’s training camp practice has also been moved indoors and will not be open to the public.
