Feeling the NFL draft in Green Bay and wondering what could Wisconsin do next

I spent part of this past weekend in the center of the football universe, with probably the biggest crowd I’ve ever been in, outside of a sports stadium. And that’s where I was, outside Lambeau Field at the NFL Draft.

Ever since Green Bay won the bid two years ago to host the 2025 draft, I had considered going there to be part of the spectacle, but I wasn’t sure whether I actually would. My brother and I happened to be halfway across the state on Friday, so we hit the road for Titletown.

The Friday night crowd was quite large — I’m sure not as big as the opening on Thursday. But we took in the attractions that were set up outside the stadium, and did get to the main stage area to watch a few picks be announced for the second round.

For a casual football fan like me, it was still a cool experience. Pretty close to what it was like visiting Minneapolis back on Super Bowl weekend in 2018.

So, now, what does Wisconsin do for an encore?

Assuming it would take another 30 years until the draft comes back to Green Bay, what else could bring huge numbers of visitors here?

We’ve been told Lambeau Field is out of the question for a future Super Bowl, because it doesn’t have a domed stadium. And they probably can’t play football at AmFam Field, like the old days of County Stadium in Milwaukee.

We had a big political convention in Milwaukee last summer, and now the draft.

Are there ways La Crosse could make Oktoberfest bigger? Would we want to?

There’s something the Badger State’s tourism experts could work on, to keep Wisconsin on the map as a major destination.

As I see it, I’m Brad Williams.