The 2024 NFL Draft saw record-breaking attendance as it was announced by the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, ahead of the Lions pick. The Governor declared that the draft was attended by more than 700,000 attendees.
The previous record, as per ESPN, was set by Nashville in 2019, as they recorded 600,000 attendees during the three day event. Whitmer shared, “We have shown the world what the Motor City is about.”
The NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, also mentioned that Detroit reached a record as the first day had more than 275,000 fans in attendance and on the second day, the event was attended by 550,000.
The two-time Pro Bowl Lions wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who joined the group on Day 1, shared, “I play football games. I’ve been in front of 100,000 people, whatever, 90,000. But, there was like, I was telling someone earlier, ‘It’s like I was Travis Scott concert, I was looking up to look away. It was crazy. But there were so many people. It was awesome to see the fans, the city, all coming together. I just feel like everything’s happening all at once at the right time for this city, for the fans. It’s just amazing to be a part of it.”
The general manager of the Detroit Lions, Brad Holmes, began the news conference by sharing profound praise for the community and fan base of Detroit, who broke the record and called them the “best fans”.
Detroit has broken the NFL Draft's all-time attendance record with more than 700,000 fans, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced.
pic.twitter.com/Neld4Ap7Gm— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 27, 2024
Over 775,000 fans in attendance.
Detroit, thank you for a record-setting #NFLDraft. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/YBEKxfNwqQ
— NFL (@NFL) April 27, 2024
Detroit (and) Everybody pic.twitter.com/LCzSnaQVJe
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2024
YESSIRSKIIIII https://t.co/XQAdvvXIVJ
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 27, 2024
Holmes mentioned, “Great for our city, great for our franchise. That’s something to be said. You get 700,000 fans at one draft host city, that’s about as impressive as it gets. So, just really want to thank the fans, just want to really thank the league and the sports commission and just everybody that played a part in this. I’m just really, really excited about this.”
He also believed that the fans of Detroit’s large stage representation were glimpsed by the whole NFL community.
