Detroit has bulldozed through the NFL Draft attendance records, just like one of its iconic muscle cars ripping down Woodward Avenue. Fox 2 Detroit reports that an astronomical 275,000 fans flooded the streets on the first day of the event, prompting the NFL One Pass app to suggest alternative viewing spots as general admission entries reached full capacity by 6:40 p.m. Fox 2 Detroit highlighted that the previous Day One record was a mere 200,000 in Nashville, in 2018.
Even police estimates, as The Detroit News highlighted, have the number at a staggering 400,000 when counting all the visitors who descended upon the city. Tallying significantly more than the brimmed draft area, the numbers outline a broader picture of Detroit's draw on an eventful Thursday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was nearly as excited as the fans, cheering Detroit's titanic turnout and beckoning the masses to "The message is: Come back tomorrow," as Christopher Moyer from Visit Detroit echoed the promise of more record-setting moments.
Detroit's three-day total seems poised to obliterate Nashville's 600,000 headcount record, as well, according to the same statement. The first night's electric energy was embodied by six new quarterbacks for six thirsty teams, led by USC's Caleb Williams, as fans and footballers alike marveled at a draft start rarely seen since 1983. Just like those QBs who were hoping not to buckle under pressure, the city's infrastructure, amped up by the massive influx, had to stay equally steadfast.
Meanwhile, the local cops had their hands full, patrolling the exuberant fans with additional units dispatched to handle the sheer volume of NFL enthusiasts, CBS Detroit reported. The crowd, overspilling with eager draft watchers, was so expansive that the general admission gates slammed shut before the first pick was even announced. "Thank you, Detroit, for a record-setting night," Goodell said. Entry for the general public was slated to resume the next day at noon, hoping to accommodate the relentless wave of gridiron devotees. CBS Detroit indicated patrol officers had the situation well in hand, keeping the peace with a mix of on-foot patrols and mounted units, all contributing to the ordered chaos that comes with an event of this magnitude.
