The game is now first-and-goal for the City of Detroit as it once again prepares to welcome the world.
Officials from the City and the NFL met Tuesday morning at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit to provide an update on preparations for the 2024 NFL Draft, which will be held in the Motor City for the first time from April 25 to April 27.
Campus Martius, Woodward Avenue, and Hart Plaza will be the centrepiece of the Draft. Viewing parties, dubbed "Draft Day in the D", will be held in Grand Circus Park, Beacon Park, Capitol Park, and Paradise Valley Beatrice Buck Park. Additional activities will take place in Greektown, Harmonie Park, Corktown, and other downtown locations.
The People Mover will operate 24 hours a day starting at 7 a.m. on April 25, and ending at midnight on April 28. The Q Line streetcar system will also operate with extended hours.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said things are coming together, and he praised Detroiters for helping people understand the appeal of the Draft and how the region will benefit.
"This is a foreign experience," said Duggan. "I've had people say, 'What's the Draft? Why do people stand and watch them pick a person to be announced on TV?' It's going to be a special few days."
Construction will start Friday on the NFL Draft Theater, adjacent to Campus Martius. That means the following streets will be closed to accommodate it.
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
Entry to the NFL Draft Experience is free, but fans must register for tickets on the official NFL website.
The Detroit Free Press reported that last year's NFL Draft in Kansas City drew over 300,000 people to the location.
Detroit has hosted numerous events over the past decade or two. Ford Field hosted Super Bowl XL in 2006, and the City of Windsor was a part of the festivities. It also hosts the North American International Auto Show, which will return to its traditional January slot in 2025.
Detroit is hosting the Midwest Regional games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament this Friday and Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, and Ford Field will host the Final Four in 2027. The Detroit Grand Prix also made a triumphant return to the streets of downtown last summer.
Complete information about visiting Detroit during the NFL Draft can be found on the official Visit Detroit website.