The 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit set the attendance record for the event with 775,000 people over three daysGetty Images
The 2024 NFL Draft wrapped up in Detroit on Saturday and set a new NFL Draft attendance record with 775,000 people over three days. The NFL previously announced that 550,000 people had been in attendance for the first two days. Breaking the all-time attendance record was “great news for the city of Detroit,” which had been “praised all throughout the week.” The announcement was made by Michigan Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer, who also “came out to announce the first Day 3 selection” for the Lions (
DETROIT NEWS, 4/27).
Whitmer said, “It had been a historic week here in the great city of Detroit. We have shown the world what the Motor City is all about and it is my honor to announce that the 2024 NFL Draft has now broken the all-time record. 700,000 and counting!” The previous record of 600,000 was set in 2019 when Nashville hosted the NFL Draft (
N.Y. POST, 4/27).
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that his “jaw dropped” when he first looked out at the sea of people (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/27). In Detroit, Mitch Albom writes the NFL Draft was “one of the best things to hit this city in decades” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/28). Also in Detroit, Ryan Ford writes “Motown’s week went almost flawlessly" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/28). Duggan said the city “set out to change our image nationally.” Duggan: “I’m looking at the Wall Street Journal and USA Today today, and all it is is praise for Detroit and how the city’s turned around, as well as how well we’re in the Draft” (DETROIT NEWS, 4/27).
Next year, Green Bay “gets its turn” at hosting the draft and the fact that a division rival “drew so many people will surely be regarded as a challenge” by Green Bay and all of Wisconsin to “match or exceed it” (NBCSPORTS.com, 4/27).
