NFL officials outline April draft plan for Green Bay: dates, campus, security and transport

City officials heard a detailed presentation on plans for the NFL Draft in Green Bay, which organizers said will run April 24–26 with a site lockdown the day before and phased build and road closures beginning March 29.

Representatives from the Green Bay Packers, the NFL production and events teams, Discover Green Bay and NFL security described a temporary “draft campus” centered on Lambeau Field, the event schedule and hours, a staged load-in starting March 29 and full site buildout through May 6, ticketing and fan-registration via the NFL 1 Pass app, transportation and parking coordination, and security measures including magnetometer screening, vehicle checks and a temporary flight restriction.

The presentation matters because it lays out the operational timeline, public-safety measures and access plans that will affect residents, local businesses and downtown traffic in the weeks before and during the draft.

John Barker, head of global event operations and production for the NFL, told the council the draft “is about hope” and described the temporary theater and broadcast set that will be erected near the stadium. Ashley Hamilton, an NFL production staff member, and other NFL operations speakers gave precise event hours: round 1 on Thursday, April 24 (gates and Draft Experience opening at noon; theater onstage production beginning about 7 p.m. and ending about 10 p.m.), rounds 2–3 on Friday, April 25 (gates noon; theater roughly 6 p.m.–11 p.m.), and Saturday, April 26 (Draft Experience and gates opening at 9 a.m.; theater beginning about 11 a.m.; campus close about 6 p.m.). Organizers said the Draft Experience (fan festival) attractions will close at 10 p.m. on nights with evening programming to match broadcast needs.

The NFL team said the theater is a temporary structure with a large general-admission viewing area behind the theater and private hospitality areas on either side; the set design incorporates Lambeau Field motifs so the production visibly reflects Green Bay. Barker said the NFL views the event as a community event: “This is your draft. You worked really hard to get it,” he said.

Jen Marks and Kelsey Bertrangelo of NFL site operations described a phased, condensed build intended to reduce neighborhood disruption. The theatrical build will be the first and last footprint erected: load-in for the longest elements begins March 29 and the full site build is planned to be vacated by May 6. Site lockdown and a security sweep are planned for Wednesday, April 23.

Organizers outlined phased road closures that follow the build phases. Phase 1 road closures would begin March 29 with additional phases added through mid-April; full event-day closures were described as occurring April 24–26, with staggered reopenings on load-out. Marks said the operations team will attempt to reopen roads earlier when it is safe and practical.

On transportation, Mike Whitty and Nick Meisner of Discover Green Bay described a multimodal plan and neighborhood parking maps that will be shared publicly. Key vehicular approaches identified include Mike McCarthy Way and Bart Starr Drive to Holmgren Way on the east side, and Lombardi Avenue on the west side. Organizers said parking and shuttle/charter information will be posted on the NFL 1 Pass app and on Discover Green Bay’s website; attendees were directed to greenbay.com/draft20five for parking details. The city and organizers said they have solicited neighborhood parking responses (nearly 300 responses to a parking survey) and are coordinating with Brown County on background checks for shuttle drivers.

On the fan experience, NFL staff said the Draft Experience is free to attend (concessions and NFL Shop purchases remain paid) and encouraged fans to download the NFL 1 Pass app to register and obtain a QR code for entry; organizers said registration opened the day of the presentation. The app will contain the daily program schedule, autograph-stage listings, maps, wayfinding and a FAQ chatbot called “Ask Vince.” Organizers said adults can register up to five minors and that a clear-bag policy and security screening will be enforced at entrances.

Ralph Dennis of NFL Security described coordinated threat monitoring with Green Bay Police and the FBI and said there were no credible threats at the time of the presentation. He said site perimeter hardening will include concrete and vehicle barriers, magnetometer and X-ray screening (ADA accommodations available), canine explosive detection, vehicle screening and camera-based crowd monitoring. Dennis also said federal rules will prohibit recreational drone flights during event days under a temporary flight restriction and that enforcement will be coordinated with local police.

Belinda Gardner, who leads community inclusion work for the draft program, said organizers have engaged local businesses and nonprofit partners, launched a local-supplier outreach program (the “draft source” program), and plan legacy initiatives, youth-prospect clinics and special community moments to remain after the event. Organizers said some supplier contract details were still being finalized and therefore specific counts and financials were not presented.

Organizers repeatedly emphasized communication with affected property owners and businesses. Jen Marks said a locally based liaison, Gary Baranowski, will work directly with owners on access, delivery frequency and individualized needs. Officials also asked businesses that can operate remotely to consider flexible schedules around peak event dates.

No formal motions, votes or council actions were reported in the presentation; the session was an informational briefing.

Ending: Organizers asked the council and community to continue to share information and sign up for the 1 Pass app; the NFL and local partners said they will continue to refine logistics in the coming weeks and aim to minimize disruption while delivering the three-day event.