Green Bay businesses and fans shift focus to prepare for NFL Draft
Jan 13, 2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) — With the Packers' playoff run wiped out in the wildcard round, businesses and fans are turning their attention to Titletown's turn to host the NFL Draft in April.
According to local businesses inside the NFL's draft zone, which is not public knowledge yet, they are working with the league on planning and logistics, which will be shared sometime after the Super Bowl.
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“Being so close to the stadium, we’re working closely with the Packers and the people planning the draft to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch," Hinterland Brewery Director of Restaurant Operations Melissa Clark said. “After they’re done planning the Super Bowl, they’ll be able to release more definitive plans about the draft.”
NFL representatives visited Green Bay for a site visit in mid-December. NFL Senior Vice President and Head of Global Operations Jon Barker had similar comments, explaining that much was undecided at that point.
“There is no plan, there is no ‘here’s the draft and we’re just going to squeeze it in here.’ When we come to a site, we start from scratch. We start with a blank piece of paper and then we figure it out," Barker told Local 5 in December. “It’s hard for me to sit here and predict for you today exactly what’s going to happen, but all you have to do is look at the history of the draft. Tens of thousands of people show up, and they want to be a part of the magic of the draft. That’s what it is.”
Just down Ridge Road from Hinterland Brewery, the Lodge Kohler has also had discussions with draft organizers, and staff appreciate the transparency shown.
“The village is really being great. The NFL was in town having some town halls with local businesses, so I think they’re doing a really great job trying to keep everyone in the loop. Obviously, it's a huge event that they’re throwing, so we’re excited to learn more as the weeks go by," Abigail Malcolm, Lodge Kohler Green Bay meetings and events manager, said. “I think that they’re being really transparent with the information they have, and I think that they’re kind of figuring things out. Green Bay’s a really unique venue for this event that they’re throwing, so I think they’re still planning some of the details, but they’re really great in getting us the information when they have it.”
Lodge Kohler will not have members of the public residing there during the draft, instead opting to arrange the rooms privately long ago.
“We never had rooms available to the public, so all of our rooms were spoken for already,” Malcolm said. “We’ve got a lot of great plans, but our emphasis is going to be on this fun party in our south parking lot. We’re right across the street from the draft grounds, and I think it’s going to be a great time.”
The party in the Lodge Kohler parking lot will be a beer garden, featuring a VIP section for executives looking to host clients.
“We're fully turning our calendar pages and are ready to start planning some great activations here for the community. We’re planning a beer garden in our south parking lot that will be open to the public," Malcolm said. “We’ve also got a VIP section of that, which will be for corporate folks looking to entertain at the draft and looking for a higher-end experience, showing some of that great Kohler hospitality that we’re known for.”
While traffic details are not available yet, being located across the street from Lambeau Field is the Lodge Kohler's ideal spot.
“We’re just excited to be right next door and in the heart of the action," Malcolm said. “I think the traffic flow is going to be a lot of folks in the area excited for the draft. So we’re excited. Usually, it’s a little sleepy around April, so we're excited to welcome in a couple hundred thousand folks to enjoy the area with us.”
Malcolm said her staff could not be more excited as they prepare their plans to host thousands at their beer garden the week of the draft.
“People are really excited," she said. "The fact that we’re right next door, I think it’s going to be a really fun time, and our entire team, now that football season is done, we’re really looking forward to April.”
Just down the street, Hinterland Brewery is brimming with the same flavor of excitement.
“We’ve definitely moved our focus into planning for the draft. We’re super excited for the economic impact it’s going to bring to Green Bay," Clark said. “Everybody’s really excited to host the out-of-town fans. They’re excited for the experience.”
While she cannot share exact details, Clark said that her staff is preparing to make sure they have enough beer to last through the event.
“We will have to make sure we have enough of our awesome Hinterland beer to serve to all of the fans attending the draft and welcomed to Green Bay," she said. “I think it’s going to be great. Being so close to the stadium, we expect us to be busy from the time the doors open to the time the doors close.”
The excitement carries over into the neighborhoods of Green Bay and also as far as Crivitz, where some are planning to rent out their houses.
“I’m pretty excited for it. This is just something that people don’t get very often around their area," Crivitz resident Jeff Mursau said. “I think everybody’s looking at that a little bit, because you hear the amount of money that people are going to pay for staying overnight, and it’s a considerable amount for sure.”
Some in the small town apparently plan on staying far away from the draft, but Mursau believes the draft is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that cannot be missed.
“I hear a lot of people saying, ‘Well, jeepers, we’re not going down there just because it’s so busy.’ But I’ll tell you, I’m coming down just to see what it’s all about. It’s just going to be a lot of fun," Mursau said. “Just to see all the people and see all the stuff and how things are set up, to come down and have that experience and say, ‘Hey, I was at an NFL draft.’”
Even though he plans on going straight to the epicenter of the action, Mursau's most pressing concern is traffic.
“I just hope everything goes well for everybody. I know it’s a big undertaking," he said. “If there’s that many people here in town, I think transportation and getting people to and from so that they don’t get upset. I think that’s the worst situation, when you end up with people getting frustrated.”
Green Bay local John McMahon shares the same concern and is wondering what shopping at grocery stores will be like.
“Throughout the city, it’s going to be different," McMahon said. "As far as grocery shopping or other shopping for a few days, it’s going to be tight.”
Despite concerns, McMahon says he and his neighbors are tingling with excitement about the enormity of the event on its way.
“Most people are pretty excited about what it’s going to look like. The experience, with that amount of people, it’s a little scary sometimes," he said. “I think it’s great for the city, and I think it’s going to bring a lot of people coming in and actually experiencing Green Bay and liking what they see.”
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McMahon looks forward to seeing the draft, but he is weighing whether to partake in renting his house out during the big week.
“I was thinking about renting out my house, but I’m having second thoughts about that," he said with a chuckle. “It’s just a lot of things you have to go through to be able to rent out your house, but I don’t think I’m ready for that.”