The Fox Cities Prepare for the NFL Draft 2025

APPLETON, WI- (WISS) – This week, hundreds of thousands of visitors will come to Northeast Wisconsin for the NFL Draft 2025. While the main event is happening in the Greater Green Bay Area near Lambeau Field and Titletown, other parts of NEWisco, like the Fox Cities, are also involved.

“So we were there from the get go. Because when you look at the size of a Detroit the Fox Cities becomes a suburb. So they knew we had the extra hotel rooms and the extra airlifts. Additionally, the two airports could kind of work together and bring people in,” said Pam Seidl, Executive Director of the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. “So we’ve been kind of a part of the process from the beginning. We helped with the bid. We provided some room data and some airline airlift data. Really, really excited for Green Bay to be hosting this event. It’s gonna be a wonderful opportunity.”

Fox Cities Supportive Role

Seidl said there are plenty of places to stay in the Fox Cities. She said room rates are about the same as what you’d pay to stay for a Packer’s game or the EAA Fly-in.

“ We know our role, right? We’re kind of that supporting community. We’ve got a lot of hotel rooms still available. So I think one of the things from a local perspective is to understand there’s still some great opportunities,” Seidl said. “If you’ve got family and friends who don’t live in the area and they wanna come in for the draft, there’s plenty of opportunity to stay.”

Fox Cities has activities planned leading up to and throughout the draft as well. For example, Seidl says about 10 venues in downtown Appleton are presenting a mini “Mile of Music.”

“We’ve got some fun things going on Wednesday evening in downtown Appleton. We have a song walk, which is being developed by Appleton Downtown Inc. and the Mile of Music. So, it’s kind of a mini-mile of music on Wednesday night in downtown Appleton,” she said. 

Seidl added that there will be Draft viewing events taking place at the Timber Rattlers Stadium as well. 

“Even at the stadium during the draft, they’re gonna have some watching on the big screen. You can watch from the club seats, watch the draft and have a little fun,” said Seidl.

Additionally, to help Draft-goers get around, there are ‘Park and Ride’ areas set up in the parking lot of the Fox River Mall. People will be able to park there and catch a shuttle bus up to the NFL Draft in Green Bay.

“ Everybody knows where the Fox River Mall is. They’ve given us the whole section of their parking lot. We’ve got six coach buses,” Seidl enthused. “Real easy trip up on both Thursday and Friday.” 
There is a charge for the shuttle bus service. To register for the ‘Park and Ride’ shuttles between the Fox Valley and Green Bay, visit FoxCities.org, or click here.