DETROIT (March 31, 2022) – The Detroit Sports Commission is hosting a free, festive football-themed community event for fans of all ages on Thursday, April 14, at Campus Martius Park to celebrate the awarding of the 2024 NFL Draft to Detroit. The event will start at 4:30 p.m. with exciting fan activities, including swag giveaways, tailgate games, food trucks offering items from barbecue to sweet treats and photo opportunities with Lions Legends, Cheerleaders and Roary. It will be followed by a celebratory program emceed by NFL on CBS and NFL Network Analyst Charles Davis where fans will hear from key dignitaries, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp and Visit Detroit President & CEO Claude Molinari. Fans will also witness the unveiling of a custom interactive display commemorating the historic announcement.
 
"The NFL's decision to select Detroit as the host city for the 2024 NFL Draft is a huge win for our city and its residents and is a testament to the revitalization and synergy that is happening," said Detroit Sports Commission Executive Director Dave Beachnau. "Along with the interconnectivity of our philanthropic and corporate sectors, Detroit is an iconic American city that has deep roots in culture, music, food, and the automotive industry, which is why we are uniquely positioned to host this global event. We look forward to celebrating this momentous announcement with the community, NFL and the Lions organization."
 
Detroit's 2024 NFL Draft Celebration will include:

• Remarks from key dignitaries, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (Tentative), Visit Detroit President & CEO Claude Molinari, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson.
• The unveiling of a custom interactive display representing Detroit that will have a permanent home in the city where fans can gather to celebrate the historic announcement.
• Photo opportunities with Detroit Lions Legends, Cheerleaders, Drumline and Roary.
• Exciting fan activities, including swag giveaways, tailgate games and food trucks offering items from barbecue to sweet treats.
• Videos celebrating the announcement.
• Music by Official Lions GameDay DJ Ray Ya Dig.
• NFL on CBS and NFL Network Analyst Charles Davis Charles Davis serving as emcee.

The three-day NFL Draft promises to bring not only fun and entertainment for local football fans and fans of major Detroit events, but also a significant number of incremental out-of-town visitors to Detroit who – based on previous NFL drafts – will stay in hotel rooms and spend discretionary income in the local community at restaurants, shops and attractions. The 2024 NFL Draft will also showcase Detroit's resurgence and strengthen and support community initiatives that will have a long-lasting impact in the city, county and state.

"The 2024 NFL Draft Community Celebration will be an exciting snapshot of the energy, passion and excitement metro Detroit residents and sports fans will bring to the table when the national spotlight is on Detroit in two years," said Visit Detroit CEO Claude Molinari. "Our mission at Visit Detroit is to attract large-scale events and activities that draw in residents from across the region. We're confident the community celebration event on April 14 and the 2024 NFL Draft will do just that."
 
Media interested in attending the Community Celebration are required to RSVP here. A detailed event schedule and site map will be provided to those who RSVP. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Felice at rfelice@lambert.com.
 
For updates and information about the community celebration event, please visit the Facebook Event page. Fans interested in more information on the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit can register at VisitDetroit.com/2024NFLDraft.
   
About the Detroit Sports Commission
The mission of the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) is to market and sell metro Detroit as a premier destination for regional, national and international amateur sporting events. The DSC is a not-for-profit charitable organization, IRS 501 (C) (3), and a subsidiary of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB). For more information, visit detroitsports.org.
 
About Visit Detroit
Visit Detroit is a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metropolitan Detroit area on a worldwide basis as a destination for leisure and business travel including conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues and job opportunities. More than 700 businesses are represented in the Visit Detroit membership. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world's first convention and visitors bureau. visitdetroit.com