The Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay (File Photo)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — A Green Bay landmark may open early to greet fans for the NFL Draft next year.
In preparation to host the 2025 NFL Draft, officials from Green Bay are in Detroit watching how the Motor City pulls it all off.
One of them is Green Bay mayor Eric Genrich.
On Thursday, Genrich said he met with Detroit’s mayor Mike Duggan and the fire department to talk about logistics and safety.
“The complexity of this event, in particular, is at a high level. I think our footprint for the draft is going to be a little bit simpler, so just kind of recognizing that but also gleaning a fair amount from how they’ve pulled everything together,” said Genrich.
Genrich says one thing he has noticed Detroit do well that he thinks Green Bay can as well, is offer a number of events outside the perimeter of the draft.
Genrich was thinking of utilizing downtown areas and perhaps Bay Beach.
Green Bay’s amusement park typically opens for the season in May but Genrich says it may make an exception for the NFL Draft in late April.
“I’d be shocked if we were able to open the entirety of the park but you know, especially having the Zippin Pippin open or something like that, I think would make a lot of sense. That’s also likely to be one of the satellite sites, this is all to be determined right? But a good site for parking because there’s a fair amount of space out there and so having people park out there and having the Zippin Pippin going, if weather cooperates, I think would be pretty cool.”
Genrich added it may be nice to have other higher profile rides open such as the Big Wheel as well.
The city also plans to make improvements that will last beyond the NFL Draft such as street lighting and improvements to Leicht Park.
“I think it’s been helpful to motivate, not just the city, but a lot of other private entities to get some projects finished before we roll out the red carpet for hundreds of thousands of people,” he said.
In addition, Green Bay’s Public Market downtown expects to be open in time for the NFL Draft, April 24–26, 2025.
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