This week, it was announced that the Green Bay Packers will host the 2025 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, the decision hasn't been well received by everyone.
It's huge for Green Bay. Team president Mark Murphy believes the economic impact will be "more than six times" a single Packers game.
The draft had been held in New York for decades but is now hosted across the country. This year's draft took place in Kansas City. It will be in Detroit in 2024 and Green Bay in 2025. It has become a massive event for fans with thousands attending each year.
Two years from now, it's Green Bay's turn to host the draft.
The Packers never get the opportunity to host a Super Bowl, and there are concerns about whether Green Bay has the infrastructure to hold such a huge event.
Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado tweeted that the decision "feels like a mistake."
This feels like a mistake.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 22, 2023
Milwaukee I sort of get. Green Bay? https://t.co/6wFzM2RU2k
And he's not alone. ESPN's Rob Demovsky shared similar concerns about whether Green Bay is ready to host one of the biggest events on the NFL calendar.
I still stand by this today.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) May 22, 2023
I hope I'm wrong, but I have concerns. https://t.co/yieCgcxLi9
However, Packers fans have been quick to defend the decision, and they took to Twitter to fire back at criticisms of the NFL's decision.
Packers fans react on Twitter to criticism of Green Bay hosting draft
Packers will always defend their team. In this case, they have responded to criticism of Green Bay hosting the 2025 NFL Draft.
Green Bay might not be the biggest city, but that doesn't mean it can't be a great host for the event.
You know who thought that Green Bay could handle the NFL Draft? The NFL. An organization not exactly known for being easy going with its big events. This is a beyond massive event for them and if they didn’t think Green Bay was up to it then Green Bay wouldn’t be hosting it.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) May 22, 2023
Can I ask you guys a question? Do we really thing the Packers and the NFL have been working on getting the draft to Green Bay since 2016 and they forgot to include "Is there enough infrastructure"?
— Pack Daddy | Packernet Podcast (@Pack_Daddy) May 23, 2023
Is this really a conversation being had? The draft is one of the biggest events…
It's reasonable to have concerns, but the organization has spent years developing plans around the bid and will have two years to implement them.
— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) May 23, 2023
The NFL wouldn't have awarded the '25 Draft to Green Bay if they didn't think they were prepared. https://t.co/9bPMemM4Pb
For all those saying Green Bay is too small, doesn’t have the infrastructure or any other misgiving for the Draft….
— Ste Diddy (@SteDiddyNFL) May 22, 2023
I’m sure the multi BILLION dollar NFL organisation probably did a smidge of due diligence & signed off on it.
Maybe. MAYBE they know more than you do. Maybe.
Haters acting like commish is gonna roll up to the podium like this. #Infrastructure @packers
— Will Jenkins (@WillThomasPhoto) May 23, 2023
Can't wait for 2025 #NFLDraft! #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/uOfccGpk8o
Some won't like it, but the 2025 NFL Draft is coming to Green Bay, a city filled with rich football history and tradition. It's well deserved.
As for infrastructure, it's hard to imagine the NFL just handed Green Bay the draft without giving it some thought. They are ready.
The Packers may never host a Super Bowl, but the draft is coming to town in 2025.