NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes a pounding here, there, and everywhere for how he handles things in the uber-popular football league. Much of it is his own doing, but some of it comes with the territory. Then there are times when you have to tip your cap and give credit where it’s due. And there is no denying that Goodell’s brain-child of having the NFL Draft travel from city-to-city has been a resounding smash.
The 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville was a weekend-long party that saw 600,000 people attend and 47.5 million more watching on TV, according to the Tennesseean. That’s a whole bunch of eyes and the potential for a ton of money to exchange hands. With that in mind, it’s no surprise teams elsewhere are going to take their shot at hosting the draft.
And you can add the Green Bay Packers to that list.
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In an interview with the Wilde and Tausch show on ESPN Milwaukee, Packers President Mark Murphy expressed public interest in hosting the NFL Draft at some point in the future. In fact, Murphy confirmed the Packers have applied to play host as early as 2022 and have applied for later dates as well.
The Packers’ interest in hosting the draft isn’t new. Back in 2018, Richard Ryman of the Green Bay Press Gazette reported the team had an interest in hosting in 2019 for the league’s centennial anniversary, but figured a later date would work, as to allow the completion of the Titletown project and construction of the Brown County Expo Center (which is expected to open in January 2021).
Green Bay might not have the facilities to host draft right now, and there will be hurdles to clear even after those projects get done. But they’re working to get things in line to host the draft within three years, so let’s keep an eye on that while we patiently await for the draft’s return to Chicago.