GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Excitement continues to brew as the clock continues to tick for when the 2025 NFL Draft begins in Green Bay on April 24.
One Green Bay business was in the spotlight Sunday, as Packers fans gathered to show their Titletown pride.
The Pancake Place on Green Bay’s west side is preparing for what’s to come once the Green Bay area is the backdrop for the draft.
“Having some extra hands on deck, like, for a day like today to kind of prepare and get ourselves ready for what the madness and the chaos is kind of going to be like. We will have extended hours during that period as well, so we’ll be open until 4pm the week of the draft,” said employee Alex Warner.
Seeing Packers fans in their Green and Gold inside, and outside the restaurant on Sundays is quite commonplace, but this time was a bit different.
Diehard fans and the community packed restaurant on Military Avenue for a special filming from ESPN for their presentation of the NFL Draft.
Some like Edgar Reyes drove nearly three hours from Illinois, and plan on doing so for the big event in April.
“This event taking place in which so many people coming from all over the world I would say, because a friend of mine from Germany is also coming, too, it’s going to be a huge impact for the city,” said Reyes.
The excitement and anticipation continues to boil over, as fans are eager to see how Titletown showcases itself on the big stage.
Just to see what it’s like. I’ve never been to the draft before, it would be my first time experiencing. It’s going to be a great opportunity just to see other super fans,” said John Akstulewicz of Kaukauna.
“We’re going to be a part of it as much as we possibly can. Very excited. Quite honestly, I’m more interested in the atmosphere of it,” said Todd Paulson, from Larson, Wisconsin.
With the draft coming to a city that is much smaller than Detroit, which hosted last year’s draft, community members feel Green Bay is ready for what’s to come.
“Personally, I think the NFL, you know, they’re having so much success for a reason and I don’t think they would’ve selected Green Bay as the Draft site if they didn’t think that we were capable of it,” said Warner.
