(The Center Square) – Wisconsin will be sending $1.8 million to the cities of Green Bay and Ashwaubenon along with Brown County to help cover additional public safety costs related to the NFL draft.
The funding was originally part of Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed budget and also was a separate bill proposed by area lawmakers before the funding ultimately came from the Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Fund.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Gov. Evers and WEDC for their critical support in covering public safety expenses related to the NFL Draft,” Green Bay Mayor Genrich said in a statement. “This was a historic event that brought enormous economic benefits to our community and the entire state of Wisconsin. The allocation of this funding recognizes that positive statewide economic effect and protects our local taxpayers from bearing the costs—a win-win for our state’s and our city’s residents.”
The large events funding that program with $30 million initially and Evers has proposed adding $5 million to the fund in the next budget.
A year ago, Evers asked the Joint Committee on Finance to release $10 million in funds for events such as this.
“The 2025 NFL Draft was a booming success, and I’ve said all along that nobody could have pulled it off other than the Green Bay Packers and the good folks in Green Bay and across the region,” Evers said in a statement. “So, it was critically important to me that Green Bay and our local partners received the support they need to cover public safety costs, and I’m glad we were able to get this done.”
Earlier this year, a group of area lawmakers asked for $1.25 million in law enforcement funds to go to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department ($500,000), Green Bay Police Department ($475,000), Green Bay Metro Fire Department ($200K) and Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department ($75,000).
The funds were released by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
“The NFL Draft was a chance for the city of Green Bay to shine on a national stage and showcase the great things taking place here in Wisconsin,” WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said in a statement. “We have the facilities to host major events, the people needed to prepare for and staff the event, and the community to rally behind such a large undertaking. Green Bay rose to the occasion and did a phenomenal job.”
Evers went on to repeat claims from marketing groups about the economic benefits of hosting the NFL draft, something economists who have studied large sporting events and facilities believe are unfounded.
“Though I am not aware of any academic study of draft events, the extensive study of sports and mega-events demonstrates that there is little reason to believe that the NFL draft might have some large economic impact that might justify these public expenditures,” economic J.C. Bradbury of Georgia’s Kennesaw State University recently told The Center Square. “We know that these events largely just replace existing tourist spending and represent a small share of the local economy.”
