Imagine the buzz of a Packers game day multiplied by ten—bratwurst sizzling, cheese curds squeaking, and the hum of prop engines overhead. Now picture that energy stretching across a week, not just a Sunday. That’s the vibe brewing in Green Bay as Wisconsin braces for a football-fueled invasion. Forget the Super Bowl shuffle; this is the 2025 NFL Draft. The league’s second-biggest spectacle—and it’s turning Titletown into a full-blown destination.
The numbers don’t lie: 250,000 fans are set to flood Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft, turning airports into gridiron ground zero. Austin Straubel International Airport, typically a quiet hub with 20,000 weekly travelers, expects to double its traffic to 40,000 during draft week. “We kind of relate the [NFL] Draft to our Super Bowl, that’s what it really is,” said airport director Marty Piette to Fox6, grinning like a coach with a secret playbook. “We’re expecting this to be the busiest week we have seen in the last 20 years.”
Airlines are scrambling, adding flights from New York to Salt Lake City, while Appleton International Airport sees a 15-20% surge. Even Milwaukee hotels, 60 miles south, are booked at 60% capacity—up from 10% in January. Besides, Green Bay isn’t just rolling out the green carpet; it’s rewriting the playbook. The Airlines?
Airlines have added nonstop routes from Atlanta, Orlando, and Detroit. Meanwhile, Appleton’s flights to Denver and Phoenix are selling faster than a $5 Lambeau Leap poster. “The busiest days are going to be on that Wednesday the 23rd and that Saturday, Sunday for going home traffic,” said Appleton director Abe Weber. However, Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport remains unfazed.
“It should be a pretty normal day around here,” shrugged spokesperson Harold Mester. “The airlines aren’t adding specific flights for the NFL Draft; they feel they can absorb the traffic coming in on their existing schedules.” Though hoteliers nearby are quietly high-fiving over rising bookings. But not every business is cheering.
Military Avenue’s Keith Zimmerman, a barber with 40 years under his belt, plans to close shop during the draft. “We have zero appointments Thursday and Friday (24th, 25th),” he told NBC26, citing parking chaos and road closures. Nearby, the Beacon Center is guarding lots for loyal customers, while restaurants like Heights Pub bank on draft crowds. “It’s big for Heights, it’s big for the business, it’s big for our staff,” admitted owner Bryan Baumler. But how often does Green Bay host an NFL Draft?
From skyways to sidewalks: A community’s game plan for the 2025 NFL Draft
The Packers’ draft prep isn’t just about picks—it’s about people. Over 1,000 volunteers will greet fans at airports, clean streets, and even serve booyah (a local stew) at the Booyah Battle festival. “What we learned through this process this last year and talking to cities like Detroit and Kansas City is the draft is a driving market,” said Josh Albrecht of VISIT Milwaukee. He notes that 60% of visitors drive in from NFL cities within six hours. Meanwhile, the Fox Cities CVB is fielding calls from Utah families hoping to see their son drafted…
A small but poignant slice of the $94 million economic boost predicted statewide. Yet challenges linger. Downtown parking rates will double to $24/day, sparking debates between locals and out-of-towners. “What we’re trying to do is cover our costs,” insists Green Bay’s Public Works Director Steve Grenier.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – APRIL 25: Jayden Daniels poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Washington Commanders during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
For businesses like Erbert & Gerbert’s, remodeled with a Packers-themed hallway, it’s a risk worth taking. “We actually put in a Packers hallway as well. Try to represent Green Bay the best we can,” owner Tyler Borth said. And as the NFL Draft nears, Green Bay embodies Vince Lombardi’s old adage…
“People who work together will win.” From airport tarmacs to dive bars, the city’s balancing small-town charm with big-league logistics. And when the last pick is announced, and the drones light up Lambeau’s sky, one question will linger: Will this draft be the catalyst that puts Green Bay on the map beyond football Sundays?
As the great John Steinbeck once wrote, “A journey is a person in itself.” So, Packers fans—ready for yours?
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