Draft Celebrations and NFL Draft Experience to take place in downtown Detroit

[MARCH 28, 2022] – The NFL announced today the 2024 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will take place in downtown Detroit. The area around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza will serve as the event site for the Draft, which has become one of the most anticipated sports events of the year for the tens of thousands of fans who will attend the three-day event and millions more watching and engaging around the world.

The announcement was made at the Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida following a review of the proposal by the Fan Engagement & Major Events Advisory Committee and full ownership.

“The Draft has become a prominent offseason event across the country, and we are excited to work with the Lions and their partners to bring the 2024 NFL Draft to the Motor City,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “With the help of Visit Detroit, the Detroit Sports Commission, and the City of Detroit the Lions passionate fan base and all visitors will be treated to an incredible three-day experience.”

As part of the event, the NFL Draft Experience – the NFL’s interactive football theme park – will provide fans a free opportunity to take part in participatory games, enjoy interactive exhibits, musical performances, and autograph sessions, and take pictures with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Draft Experience will be open all three days of the event.

“Today is a historic day for Detroit with the announcement that the 2024 NFL Draft is coming to the Motor City,” said CLAUDE MOLINARI, Visit Detroit President and CEO. “Visit Detroit is looking forward to working with our partners in the hospitality community to welcome enthusiastic football fans from across the country who will make our city a pigskin pilgrimage stop. Hosting the draft is another exciting win for Detroit, and it will deliver a powerful economic impact and highlight the vibrancy of our region.”

“As we learn that Detroit has been selected to host the 2024 NFL Draft, today is momentous for our city and the Detroit Sports Commission,” said DAVE BEACHNAU, Detroit Sports Commission Executive Director. “Hosting the NFL Draft in Detroit promises to be a celebration of our community’s spirit. It will deliver high value for our residents, businesses, and the great fans who make Detroit the best sports city in America. Our partnerships with the Detroit Lions and other valued community organizations helped make this bid a reality. Now, the real work begins with our focus on our collective commitment, contributions, and collaboration. We are steadfast to host a tremendous event in 2024.”

The NFL Draft has become one of the biggest and most-anticipated sporting events of the year. The 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland was seen by an average audience of 6.1 million viewers (TV + Digital) across ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and digital channels for the three-day event, making it the third most-watched Draft ever.

The 2022 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will take place in Las Vegas on April 28-30, followed by 2023 in Kansas City on April 27-29.

Fans interested in more information on the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit can register at VisitDetroit.com/2024NFLDraft.

In addition, the Detroit Sports Commission, in partnership with the Detroit Lions, will host a free, festive football-themed community event for fans of all ages on Thursday, April 14 at Campus Martius Park to celebrate the awarding of the 2024 NFL Draft to Detroit.

More information on the celebration will be announced in the coming days.

NFL DRAFT LOCATION HISTORY
Draft Location, City
1936 Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
1937 Hotel Lincoln, New York
1938 Hotel Sherman, Chicago
1939 Hotel New Yorker, New York
1940 Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee
1941 Willard Hotel, Washington, D.C.
1942-44 Palmer House, Chicago
1945-47 Hotel Commodore, New York
1948 Hotel Fort Pitt, Pittsburgh
1949-50 Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia
1951 Blackstone Hotel, Chicago
1952 Hotel Statler, New York
1953-54 Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia
1955 Warwick Hotel New York
1956 Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 1-3), Philadelphia
Ambassador Hotel (Rounds 4-30), Los Angeles
1957 Warwick Hotel (Rounds 1-4) Philadelphia
—–Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 5-30), Philadelphia
1958-61 Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia
1962-64 Sheraton Hotel, Chicago
1965-66 Summit Hotel, New York
1967 Hotel Gotham, New York
1968-71 Belmont Plaza Hotel, New York
1972 Essex House, New York
1973-74 Americana Hotel, New York
1975 Hilton Hotel, New York
1976-78 Roosevelt Hotel, New York
1979 Waldorf, New York
1980-83 Sheraton Hotel, New York
1984-85 Omni Park Central Hotel, New York
1986-94 Marriott Marquis, New York
1995-2004 Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York
2005 Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York
2006-2014 Radio City Music Hall New York
2015-16 Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University / Grant Park Chicago
2017 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
2018 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Tex.
2019 Downtown Nashville
2020 Remote (Pandemic)
2021 Downtown Cleveland
2022 Las Vegas Strip & Caesars Forum
2023 Downtown Kansas City
2024 Downtown Detroit