Streets will begin to close in downtown Detroit on Friday as preparation and construction ramps up for the NFL Draft, taking place just east of Campus Martius Park, April 25-27.
The large NFL Draft Theater, which is being built starting this weekend, will act as the event’s central hub where all 32 teams pick the future football stars live and in-person in front of an audience expected to be at least 300,000 strong. Most of the event is free to the public but there are some VIP packages available.
Phase one closures will begin on Friday and last until May 7. They largely will be contained to the perimeter of the NFL Draft Theater footprint, including:
- Randolph Street between Macomb Street and Fort Street
- Monroe Street between North Woodward Avenue and Randolph Street
- Farmer Street between Randolph and Bates (Garage access only)
- Bates Street (no through traffic)
- Farmer from Randolph to Bates
Draft organizers — including the city of Detroit, Visit Detroit, Detroit Sports Commission, the state of Michigan, Wayne County, Rocket Cos., the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), and the Detroit Lions — have been meeting for weeks with business owners and residents in the impacted area to inform them of the closures and to answer any questions they may have.
Details of later phases of closures, including East Jefferson for the construction of the NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza, will be announced shortly after the Phase One closure has been implemented.
The Draft is expected to bring national and global media attention to the city of Detroit, including 90 hours of broadcast coverage reaching more than 50 million viewers on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and streamed on NFL+. The announcement, marking 30 days before night one of the Draft on April 25, took place at the Development at Cadillac Square — formerly known as the Monroe Midway — the site of the NFL Draft Theater.
“The NFL Draft is going to do more for our city in terms of economic activity and its national image than any single event in Detroit’s history,” says Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “Just 30 days from now, hundreds of thousands of visitors will be staying at our hotels, shopping at our stores, and dining at restaurants across the city. We’ve been working behind the scenes for more than a year and now is the time people will actually start to see the NFL Draft event space start to take shape.”
In addition to the street closures and construction update, organizers announced the launch of a comprehensive “Know Before You Go” public awareness campaign to provide essential information for residents, business owners, and fans planning to attend the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Part of that campaign is the visitdetroit.com/2024nfldraft website.
Draft updates also will be posted on the NFL One Pass app, visitdetroit.com, and detroitmi.gov. Upcoming phases of the build-out will include the area around Hart Plaza, which will host the NFL Draft Experience presented by Rocket Mortgage, also free for the public to enjoy.
In addition to the construction of the NFL Draft Theater, visitors already can see NFL team banners on downtown light poles and electrical transformer boxes painted with the jerseys of Detroit sports legends from each of its professional sports teams.
A slate of free ancillary viewing and entertainment areas, where thousands of visitors outside of the immediate NFL Draft footprint can enjoy the experience, were announced during today’s update. The DDP will present Draft Day in the D viewing parties in Grand Circus Park, Beacon Park, Capitol Park, and Paradise Valley Beatrice Buck Park, while Bedrock will be activating Woodward Avenue from State Street to Park Avenue, as well as Parker’s Alley and The BELT.
“The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s Draft Day in the D is free to fans, friends, and families who will be enjoying Detroit during Draft Weekend,” says Eric B. Larson, CEO of the DDP. “We’re focused on creating an inclusive and fun atmosphere throughout downtown that builds upon the energy and excitement from the main event in Campus Martius Park that engages local businesses to provide something for everyone.”
Ivy Greaner, COO of Bedrock, says: “Bedrock continues to work in collaboration with many partners to ensure that the experience for everyone who attends the NFL Draft in Detroit is the most seamless possible. Additionally, we will stand up a variety of activities, events, and entertainment options at our dining establishments, retailers, and public spaces across Detroit for all to enjoy.”
The Draft is expected to engage other areas of the city over the three-day event, including Corktown and the Corner Ballpark, which will host youth-focused activities like NFL Flag Skills and Drills and football clinics. Greektown, Eastern Market, and Columbia Street in The District Detroit (between the Fox Theatre and Little Caesars headquarters), are planning for football-themed activities to welcome fans.
All adults are required to register for free entry to the NFL Draft but also can register up to five children to get into the event, which includes free entry to the 2024 NFL Draft Experience presented by Rocket Mortgage. Fans are encouraged to get to the Draft Experience early, as attendance will be on a first-come first-served basis. For those without a smartphone, registration on site via Fan Services staff also is permitted.
For more information on NFL Draft, fans can visit here and download the NFL OnePass app or on the web at NFL.com/DraftAccess.
“We can’t wait to welcome football fans from Detroit and worldwide to our city,” says Claude Molinari, CEO of Visit Detroit. “Success in hosting major events is much like success on the football field. It takes an incredible team working together, and I want to recognize this region’s incredible corporate, civic, and philanthropic community whose donations are making the NFL Draft possible.”
