Article Summary –
The 2024 NFL draft will take place in downtown Detroit from April 25-27, the first time in the draft’s 88-year history. The event is expected to bring in over $160 million for local businesses and attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the city, according to an analysis by the Anderson Economic Group. The city has been preparing for the event for over a year, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase Detroit’s economic and cultural revival after filing for bankruptcy just over a decade ago.
2024 NFL Draft: Boost for Detroit’s Economic Revival
The countdown is on for the 2024 NFL draft set to unfold in downtown Detroit from April 25-27, marking a significant moment in the city’s ongoing revival.
The Anderson Economic Group forecasts the event could draw hundreds of thousands of football fanatics, potentially generating a whopping $160 million for local businesses and Detroit’s economy.
Tyler Theile, VP and Director of Economic Analysis and Public Policy at Anderson Economic Group, said the NFL draft presents a prime opportunity for Detroit to flaunt its thriving culture to a national audience, promoting long-term tourism and investment.
The 88-year-old annual event makes it debut in Detroit, adding a new chapter to the city’s resurgence story that started barely a decade ago, when Detroit became the largest city in American history filing for bankruptcy. The city has since attracted significant new investments and businesses.
City officials believe the NFL draft will provide visitors a glimpse of Detroit’s progress, stated John Roach, a spokesperson for the Detroit mayor’s office.
Preparations have been underway for over a year, revealed a statement from Mayor Mike Duggan. The NFL Draft Theater is under construction in Cadillac Square, where the new football stars will be selected. NFL team banners and a Hollywood-style Detroit sign will greet visitors downtown and those entering the city via I-94.
Mayor Duggan believes the NFL Draft will significantly boost the city’s economic activity and national image.
The free event, expected to reach over 50 million people, will be centered in the downtown area around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Viewing parties and football-themed activities will occur citywide during the draft weekend. For event updates, check the NFL One Pass app, visitdetroit.com, and detroitmi.gov.
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