Green Bay, known for its love of the Packers, is set to become a bustling hub in April 2025 when the NFL Draft comes to Lambeau Field. According to FOX6Now, organizers expect up to 240,000 visitors to Wisconsin, a crowd five times larger than the one in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.

The influx of football fans is expected to crowd the streets of Green Bay and provide a significant economic boost to the state, with an estimated $94 million impact and $20 million directly benefiting the city. However, experts like Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College, have raised concerns. He questions the accuracy of the multiplier effect used to calculate these figures, suggesting it doesn't account for out-of-state businesses that may not reinvest their earnings locally.

In preparation for the event, Packers officials and tourism leaders have been touring the state to highlight the economic impact of the draft and share strategies with businesses on how to capitalize on the influx of visitors. "What we've been doing the last couple of days is talking about what businesses around the state can do to get ready," said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Green Bay Packers, during a meeting covered by WISN.

The Packers' community outreach has reached cities like Eau Claire, Madison, and Milwaukee, aiming to create a welcoming atmosphere for the expected influx of visitors to Wisconsin. Melissa Sable of Travel Wisconsin shared this view, noting, "The economic impact that those travelers will be coming, through Wisconsin, again, geographically when you think about where Green Bay is, people have to travel up through the state on the primary corridors and will be passing through a lot of the primary destinations," she explained in an interview with FOX 11.