(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers included a proposal to send $1 million in general tax funds to Green Bay for additional public safety resources for the NFL draft from April 24-26 in Green Bay as part of his biennial budget proposal.
This comes after Evers asked the Joint Committee on Finance to release $10 million in large event funds in May so that some could be spent toward the draft weekend.
The budget proposal comes as the NFL released renderings of what the draft events will look like, from a draft theater in the northeast parking lot of Lambeau Field near the corner of Oneida Street and Lombardi Avenue.
The theater, where picks will be announced, is planned to be 250,000 square feet on Lambeau Field’s east and northeast sides.
Another 800,000 square feet of NFL experience in the stadium’s west side parking lots and most of the Titletown development will include NFL exhibits, field goal kicking, 40-yard dash and kids Play 60 zones and food and beverage areas.
There will be general admission entry areas along Ridge Road and near the west end of Titletown.
Wisconsin’s last biennial budget also included a $34 million increase in funding for marketing and advertising for the Department of Tourism. Evers said that $3 million of that will be spent on grants to Discover Green Bay and Visit Milwaukee during the 2025 NFL draft and 2024 Republican National Convention.
Evers has touted the benefits of hosting the NFL draft along with claims on the economic impact of tourism in the state from the marketing firm Tourism Economics.
Economists continue to be skeptical and provide data that shows Tourism Economics’ claims are incorrect.
