Officials from the NFL, Visit Detroit and the Downtown Detroit Partnership revealed the 2024 NFL draft locations, along with other event updates fans can expect, at Tuesday’s Detroit City Council meeting.
The draft is April 25-27 and will take up 2 million square feet of space spanning from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza. Officials released the map footprint, which includes a draft theater for fan viewing near the One Campus Martius building.
Officials anticipate a significant economic impact for businesses in Detroit. Last year’s draft in Kansas City pulled in roughly 312,000 attendees and a reported $109 million was spent directly in the city by fans who attended the draft, said Jon Barker, senior vice president of NFL global event operations and production.
“For everything that we have been told by everybody that lives in Detroit, Detroit will beat Kansas City,” Barker said.
Draft theater and experience
Fans can dive into the action and watch eligible players pour in at the draft theater, which will be located at Randolph and Monroe streets in the Monroe Street Midway area near Greektown. The entire landscape stretches through Campus Martius Park and Cadillac Square, and runs south down Woodward Avenue through Hart Plaza.
The Draft Experience, which will be a free interactive football theme park, will be held at Hart Plaza.
Local business access “portals” will be open along Congress and Woodward Avenue to ease movement for fans stepping in and out of the footprint. Farago added the event will have a “robust mobility assistance program” in place, whether it involves staff transporting guests in golf carts, wheelchairs and making adjustments to the physical layout.
The NFL draft will also include a red carpet event at the Fox Theatre on the afternoon of Thursday, April 25, said Steve Farago, NFL event operations director.
OnePass app
Fans are encouraged to download OnePass, which is an app to find all communications and event information. It will notify visitors of security and entry procedures, the time and schedule, map footprint, an attraction list and a waiver to participate in the interactive activities and games. The mobile app is live but registration isn’t available until March 19.
Fans who may not have a smartphone or internet connectivity can register on-site.
Production schedule
Gates will open at noon from April 25-26 to kick off the Round One Draft Experience. The draft theater will host visitors from 8-11 p.m. and will open a couple hours beforehand but the exact time has yet to be determined, Farago said.
Rounds two and three will take place from 7-11 p.m. Friday, April 26 and noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Gates will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The final day will be focused more on family-friendly activities, Farago added.
Outside the NFL draft footprint
Officials plan to host additional events at Beacon Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park and along Woodward Avenue. Each venue can hold a capacity between 500 to 20,000.
“We’re adding additional capacity in the downtown Detroit parks and public spaces that will create a unique opportunity within those parks on large LED screens, food trucks, vendor opportunities,” and family-friendly activities, said David Cowan, chief public services officer at Downtown Detroit Partnership.
The Corner Ballpark will also host Prospect Clinic and a community event on Wednesday for the invited prospects and accredited media. It will be home to youth activities, NFL Flag clinics, various activations, food trucks and a watch party from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday and 7-10 p.m. on Friday.
On the third day, the NFL is planning a hustle dance takeover across downtown.
“Our goal is to break the world record of the hustle dance all the way from the theater, down to Hart Plaza,” said Nicki Ewell, NFL senior director of fan experiences and hospitality.
Elevated security
Various local, state and federal agencies will provide security throughout the event, including the Detroit Police and Fire departments; Detroit Homeland Security, Detroit Department of Transportation; Transportation Security Administration; FBI; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Michigan State Police; Wayne County Sheriff’s office; Bedrock security; and the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
Lenny Bandy, vice president of security for the NFL, met with Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison and Detroit Police Chief James White to devise a security plan.
“We will be guided largely by their instruction their recommendations and how we ensure that our protocols that we implement are consistent not only with our own standards but also with the city’s expectations,” Bandy said.
The event will establish 11 Detroit Police Department task force committees, assigning command staff to NFL security committees.
Business partnerships
The NFL rolled out a “Business Connect” program for Detroit-based businesses to provide services and potentially travel with the league for future events. More than 70 businesses have been submitted. Categories include audio visual, contract labor, barricade, entertainment, catering and concessions, event décor, production, heavy equipment, florals, janitorial and transportation staffing.
A big emphasis was placed on drawing certified minority-owned businesses, in which officials worked with the city to certify local businesses. After about five certification fairs, the city managed to certify more than 120 businesses, said Kai Bowman, chief operating officer of the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance.
Organizers are also stressing diverse concessions options. Bowman told council members they can expect to see many businesses from their districts at the draft. He also touched on Chef Max Hardy, who died this week, as a vendor who will be represented.
“He was one of the businesses that was recommended. We will make sure he is well represented at the draft in that area because of his selflessness to the community,” Bowman said.
Key dates of construction
Crews will begin building structures and laying out red carpet starting this month.
- Theater construction begins March 30 and is expected to be completed April 21.
- Cadillac Square and Campus Martius buildout will occur April 8.
- Hart Plaza construction begins April 15.
- Red carpet will be placed April 20.
- Woodward Avenue will close from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza on April 22.
- Overnight security check will occur April 23, then a full lockdown will kick off from April 24-27 for the event.
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: [email protected]. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
2024-03-05 21:12:35
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