The pick is in. With the first pick…in the 2025 NFL Draft…You select…Milwaukee, Wisconsin! That’s right, Green Bay is on the clock for next year’s draft, and 365 days from now, elite college stars will take to the stage and achieve their lifelong dreams, becoming the next face of an NFL franchise.
While our northern neighbors will host the 2025 NFL Draft festivities in Titletown, here are seven reasons why Milwaukee is the perfect pick for your draft day experience.
Basics: The Draft
As we are still a year away from the draft in Green Bay, many of the details and schedules have yet to unfold, but here’s what we know:
The draft will take place April 24-26, 2025, as the eyes of the athletic world turn to collegiate standouts hoping to hear their name called. Throughout the weekend, tens of thousands of fans will pack into the city, hoping to take part in a special atmosphere and witness their team’s future unfold pick by pick in real-time.
With the First Pick: Convenience and Amenities
Green Bay is just 116 miles from Milwaukee, an easy jaunt on I-43 leading straight to the hallowed halls of one of the world’s great sports cathedrals, Lambeau Field. With such a highly anticipated event drawing visitors from around the world, hotel rooms may be hard to come by. But not to worry, with more than 16,900 hotel rooms throughout the Greater Milwaukee area, you can plan your stay and head to Green Bay for draft day.
With the Second Pick: Sports Getaway
Map out a sports getaway and experience the marvelous atmosphere of draft day and a championship-caliber sporting event in Milwaukee. Of course, there are no guarantees in sports, but consulting the athletic crystal ball, it appears certain the Milwaukee Bucks will return to the NBA Playoffs in 2025. With the MVP play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ championship window is wide open. Experience the true meaning of Bucks in Six at Fiserv Forum, and see the picks at the NFL Draft in one stay and see why Deer District is a fan environment unlike any other.
Across town at American Family Field, check out a curious blend of top-flight baseball and Green Bay Packers history. Home of the recent perennial playoff-contending Milwaukee Brewers, it’s always perfect weather for baseball under the retractable roof.
Green Bay and Milwaukee have a long, intertwined football history. From 1934 until 1994, the Packers played select home games in Milwaukee. From 1953 to 1994, the Packers played two to three home games a season at County Stadium. The stadium no longer exists, but if you look around the parking lot of American Family Field, you’ll find a marker noting the home plate from where County Stadium once stood. Revel in a relic of NFL history, then head inside and see the Crew play ball!
The AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators, the Milwaukee Admirals, and the Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer club may still be in action as they chase another championship. No promises, but Calder Cup hockey and postseason arena soccer may be in the cards.
With the Third Pick: Dramatic Performances
The NFL Draft is reality television with no equal. The drama, the suspense, the intrigue all happening in real time before a global viewing audience. To keep the adrenaline from the draft drama coursing through your veins, head to a show in the Milwaukee Theater District. With everything from rock shows to Broadway musicals, sweeping symphony performances to suspenseful plays, there’s something in Milwaukee’s most entertaining district to put the punctuation mark on your draft day getaway.
With the Fourth Pick: Cream City Classics
Who can say no to a basket of fried cheese curds, bloody marys, fish frys, brats or any of the well-loved staples that Milwaukee is known for? These tantalizing taste sensations are our city’s calling cards, but there are so many more icons that make Milwaukee special. Take a tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum or the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum. Steep yourself in Milwaukee’s brewing tradition at the Pabst Mansion or Lakefront Brewery. And give the Bronze Fonz a thumbs up. There’s so much to see in Milwaukee! Build your own itinerary from start to finish here.
With the Fifth Pick: Culinary Capital of the Midwest
Sure, we’re known for the curds and craft beer, but Milwaukee is also a white-hot dining destination. Get a taste of the bold, fresh flavors of the city that the readers of Eater have recognized as “One of 2024’s Hottest Dining Cities.” But the biggest sizzle spotlighting the city’s sensational culinary scene is now airing. “Top Chef: Wisconsin” prominently features the innovative, forward-thinking chefs and restaurants making Milwaukee one of the top dining destinations in the country right now. No matter where you go in Milwaukee, every restaurant is a quality pick.
With the Sixth Pick: Urban Outdoor Exploration
Late April is beautiful in Milwaukee. With highs averaging in the upper 50s, it’s the perfect weather to explore the great outdoors steps away from your hotel room. Hop on a Bublr Bike and take a spin on the Oak Leaf Trail. Go for a hike at the fairytale-esque Seven Bridges Park. Spot your favorite feathered friends birding. Bring your clubs and take a whack at one of the beautiful golf courses throughout Milwaukee County. Or walk along Bradford Beach dreaming of your favorite team’s certain Super Bowl hopes. The city is an endless playground for urban outdoor adventure.
With the Seventh Pick: A Draft Day Unlike Any Other
2025 is the first time the NFL Draft has ever come to Green Bay. A city rich in football tradition, Green Bay is poised to be a draft day like any other. When you draft by day and stay in Milwaukee, you get the best of both worlds. Convenience and ease, sensational dining and attractions and a memorable experience that’ll last a lifetime. Plan your draft day getaway today!
