1 week until NFL Draft, preparations and setup underway in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) — The world's biggest football fans will soon descend on Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Preparations are underway in Titletown and at nearby businesses for the big event, Thursday, April 24 - Saturday, April 26.

One week away from the start of the draft, fans stopped by Lambeau Field on Thursday to get a look at the Draft Theater setup.

“It's so cool for Green Bay, and the Packers, and all of Wisconsin,” said fan Debbie Schreiner. She and her husband, Mike, live in Arizona now, but they grew up in Green Bay.

“Everybody wants to do this at least once on their bucket list,” Mike Schreiner said.

They're back in town for the draft, and plan to join the crowd next weekend.

“All of the cities, towns, the state, they've really jumped in and embraced the whole experience and the festival atmosphere,” Debbie said.

The 90-foot-tall Draft Theater stage is set just outside Lambeau Field.

That's where NFL prospects will be selected by their teams.

Country music star Brad Paisley will perform a free concert there on Saturday night, April 26.

"I think it'll be really cool to see all the new people from other states coming to Green Bay for the draft,” said Mia Brooks, who plans to attend the Draft Experience.

About 2,000 ticketed seats are at the stage, but the Draft Experience nearby is free with the NFL OnePass.

Stadium district bars and restaurants are also preparing for big business.

"It's going to be four days of non-stop home game-like atmosphere, back to back to back,” said Samantha Scott, marketing director for Great North Hospitality Group.

Great North Hospitality owns the popular Anduzzi’s Sports Club on Holmgren Way, and they just opened the brand-new Great North Commons next door, which houses two new restaurants.

"Everybody's excited, we don't really know what to expect, but it's a unique experience that's going to be brought to Green Bay,” Scott said.

After two years of anticipation, excitement seems to be the common emotion flowing through the stadium district.

"We are very excited that Green Bay has this exposure,” said Molly Saldarriaga, who plans to attend the Draft Experience. “I think we are going to show everybody that we're going to receive them with a lot of love and friendly community."

Right now, organizers are expecting about 250,000 fans to attend.

Last year’s NFL Draft in Detroit shattered attendance records, seeing 775,000 attendees.