Packers' draft-hosting options remain 2022 or 2024 and beyond
Richard RymanGREEN BAY – The NFL on Wednesday awarded the draft to Cleveland in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023. A site for the 2022 draft remains to be decided.
Las Vegas will host the draft in 2020.
The Green Bay Packers notified the NFL they are interested in hosting the draft, but have not submitted a formal bid. The Packers could bid on 2022 (but they would have to do it this year), or could shoot for 2024 or beyond. A decision on whether to bid on 2022 is expected soon.
The Packers said a new expo hall and more-developed Titletown District are key components to hosting the draft.
The expo hall will replace the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and Shopko Hall. Demolition of that complex is scheduled to begin this week.
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Titletown District is a 45-acre development immediately west of Lambeau Field. It includes a 10-acre public park and plaza with outdoor games and fitness activities; a winter skating rink and tubing hill located at Ariens Hill; the four-diamond Lodge Kohler hotel; Bellin Health Titletown Sports Medicine & Orthopedics Clinic; Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery; and TitletownTech, a partnership with Microsoft offering digital innovations and expertise to northeastern Wisconsin through an innovation lab, venture studio and venture fund. The Titletown Tech building also will host a TopGolf-themed restaurant.
Construction will begin this summer on 70 to 90 townhouses along Brookwood Drive, a 150-unit apartment building and an office building.
"We know we'll have better pieces in later years. 2024 and beyond become better possibilities as you consider further development of Titletown," said Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs. "We know that will be a key component of developing a campus to set up a main footprint (for the draft). Downtown will be a component, too."
The NFL said 600,000 people attended April's draft in Nashville, far eclipsing the previous record of 250,000 in 2017 in Philadelphia. With 47.5 million viewers over three days, it was the highest-rated and most-watched draft ever.
Brad Toll, president of the Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau. said the 600,000 figure was over three days and double- or triple-counted some attendees who went each day.
The NFL said a report compiled by VisitDallas determined that the 2018 draft generated $125.2 million in economic impact for the Dallas region, including $74 million in direct spending.
A Packers game generates an estimated $15 million in economic impact.
Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/