Fans can participate in multiple activities at the NFL Draft Experience in downtown Detroit

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Fans can participate in multiple activities at the NFL Draft Experience in downtown Detroit

Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press · Detroit Free Press

Wed, Apr 24, 2024 ·

3 min read

Get a hero's introduction

"We expect over 20,000 fans to make their way through throughout the weekend with this experience," said Emily Griffin, Lions senior vice president for marketing and brand. "There's all sorts of different photo opportunities and interactive games, the opportunity to check out our brand new uniforms that we unveiled last week. I think one of the marquee components that we're most excited about is our hero's entrance. Fans that come in will get announced and introduced into the activation just like our players do on Sunday at Ford Field to our frenzied and passionate fan base."

Visitors can expect to see a number of Arab-American owned businesses throughout the draft footprint and experience zone, along with a prayer hall on the west side of Hart Plaza, a first for the draft, Griffin said.

Staff set up during for NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

"For the first time ever, they will have these prayer halls and I think that their effort to understand our community and the makeup of this community, and make this draft unique to Detroit and the surrounding area is exceptional. We're very proud of that," Griffin said.

What's your 40 yard dash time?

Deeper into Hart Plaza, fans will see a gallery of football memorabilia, the Lombardi Trophy, all 57 Super Bowl rings on display, an autograph stage, along with local vendors like Shibam Coffee and Good Cakes and Bakes, who were present for a media tour Wednesday. Several local concession stands will be placed near the UAW-Ford National Programs Center adjacent to Hart Plaza and farther north near the draft theatre.

The 40-yard dash setup on Jefferson Avenue during the media preview for NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Nicki Ewell, NFL senior director of events, said fans can participate in a variety of interactive events, including a digital 40-yard dash against Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley , a vertical jump and Hail Mary experience by the riverfront.

"We also have our play football field at Corner Ballpark," Ewell said. "We have our flag football field there so flags, skills and drills for kids ages 6 through 14 can be played there, but we also have a watch party there."

Nicki Ewell, the NFL's senior director of events, speaks during the media preview for NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

The Lions' success this past year, making it to the NFC championship game, amplified the experience for the draft, Griffin said.

"It's made everything better. We're so proud of the incredible season that we had, our first home playoff win in over 30 years, and we know that access to Ford Field and the Lions gameday experience is going to be increasingly more difficult to access. And that was part of our strategy here. For over three days, we expect hundreds of thousands of people in downtown Detroit and (want) to give them an opportunity to feel what it's like to be at the stadium on game day when they may not be able to necessarily was very important to us," Griffin said.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana .

Inside of the Detroit Lions tent during the media preview for NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.