The City of Detroit hosted the 2024 NFL Draft this past weekend and it was a huge success. Detroit showed up and broke the record with over 775,000 attendees over the three-day draft. There was a ton of talent in this year’s draft and with the Lion’s recent success, it was a perfect time for the city of Detroit to host the Draft.

The Draft atmosphere was amazing. Detroit fans crowded around the draft stage and flooded the streets where there were many activities, autograph signings, and meet and greets for fans. ESPN, ABC, and NBC booths were all set up around the stage where draft attendees could watch Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Dan Orlovsky, Adam Schefter, and many more host their shows.

The Draft opened at noon to the public where fans could walk around and view everything set up. There were also activities set up near the Detroit River that included the viewing of Super Bowl rings and the Lombardi Trophy. The Draft also had mini-combine activities for fans to run the 40-yard dash and a throwing challenge.

Detroit players were spotted throughout the Draft. Amon Ra St. Brown was seen handing out Little Ceasars pizza slices to fans just a day after his massive contract extension signing. Jahmyr Gibbs was competing with fans in some of the mini-combine challenges. Other players were doing autograph signings and meet and greets.

The city of Detroit did a great job showcasing their fans and how far they have come. Over the three day of the Draft, there was an average television audience of 12.1 million viewers. That is more than the NBA Finals, and all 2023 regular season college football games except one. The 2024 NFL Draft broke many records due to the talent, production, and Detroit fans.

On the first night of the Draft, they had Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders, Jared Goff, Amon Ra St. Brown, and Aidan Hutchinson come onto the stage. The crown went crazy as they are the past and present legends of Detroit football. Eminem walked out with Roger Goodell which came with a mix of booing at the Commissioner and the cheering of the Detroit rap legend. Integrating some of Detroit’s legends into this draft made it special for the fans and amplified the hype for this upcoming season.

Detroit did a great job showcasing their city and their fans throughout the 2024 Draft. The NFL did a great job setting up tons of activities and touring areas throughout downtown for fans from all across the United States to explore. The NFL Draft Stage looked amazing and allowing fans to see their favorite TV network hosts made the fan experience amazing. Detroit set the new precedent for future NFL Drafts and it was an amazing experience for all fans of the NFL.