'Insanity': Attendance record set, maximum capacity reached at NFL draft in Detroit

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'Insanity': Attendance record set, maximum capacity reached at NFL draft in Detroit

Clara Hendrickson, JC Reindl, Dave Boucher, Dana Afana, Brendel Hightower, Anjanette Delgado, Christina Hall, Jalen Williams, Lyndsay C. Green, Brian Manzullo, Eric D. Lawrence, Eric Guzmán, Matthew Dolan, James G. Hill and Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press · Detroit Free Press

Fri, Apr 26, 2024 ·

30 min read

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At long last, the 2024 NFL draft is here. Hundreds of thousands of football fans descended upon downtown Detroit for the sports spectacle that will see more than 200 new players enter the league and hope at an all-time high for all 32 teams, including the Detroit Lions .

While the actual NFL draft began at 8 tonight with Round 1, the NFL Fan Experience opened to the public at noon. We're covering all the action as we bring the excitement to you with live updates and visuals from Detroit .

Keep up with our live updates on what's happening on Day 1 at the NFL draft's theater near Campus Martius and at the NFL Fan Experience in Hart Plaza.

Secretary of State Benson weighs in on the scene

Root against J.J.?

Dee Handy of Detroit watched the NFL draft at the Lloyd Diehl Boys and Girls club in Detroit during a watch party after the a conference on youth sports.

She waited to see where former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy would land .

"I would always want him to come back," she said.

Moments later, the Minnesota Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th pick in the draft.

"I don't know how to feel about that!," she said in shock. "That's one of our biggest rivals."

As it all settled in that the former star quarterback in Ann Arbor would be playing for a division rival of the Detroit Lions, Handy had only one thing to say:

"We're going to have to smack you around, J.J."

— Eric Guzmán

Detroit police chief weighs in on crowds, security

It's a lot of people, said Detroit Police Chief James White said with a laugh after replacing his cap following The Star-Spangled Banner playing before a crowd of thousands at the NFL draft in downtown Detroit Thursday night. But, he said, "everything is going as expected" and "everybody's pretty much well-behaved."

A little bit of a challenge has been people indulging in adult beverages, White said.

It's not like any other sports game or Lions game when people tailgate starting at 6 or 8 a.m. in the morning and leave by 4 p.m., he said. People have been out all day and the draft likely won't clear out until midnight, he said. He encouraged people to pace themselves.

There were also some people who also tried to sneak in when the entryways closed, White confirmed.

"We were right on top of it and were able to get them out and it was no big deal, nobody got arrested or anything," he said.

White commended his officers – he'd smiled for photos with a few members of the law enforcement community at the back of the crowd - and he said the security measures were going well.

"Just be patient," was his message to fans. "It's going to be a long evening with the draft picks and pace yourself with the drinking and we're going to get you out of here safely with our traffic plan."

As for the draft itself, White said, "I want a quarterback."

— Darcie Moran

JJ heads north to join Vikings

Michigan fans watching the NFL Draft in Detroit offered mixed feelings about watching beloved quarterback JJ McCarthy go to the Minnesota Vikings.

A Vikings fan stopped Julian Medina,15, so he could get a picture with his McCarthy jersey. Medina, of Laingsburg, located just northeast of Lansing, said McCarthy is primed to perform well.

"He's got weapons, like Justin Jefferson ," he said.

That's the problem, said Matt Laun, a 36 year old Michigan and Lions fan.

"It's gonna suck," he said, moments after cheering for McCarthy. "It's gonna suck to root against him."

Although gear for the Lions and other NFL franchises made up the majority of swag at the draft, quite a few people wore their Michigan jerseys and other Maize and Blue garb.

Will McDowell, 35, of Detroit brought his makeshift championship belt to the draft. Before the draft he said he wants McCarthy to succeed, but really didn't want him in the NFC North.

"I'm gonna be bummed when I see Aidan Hutchinson hit him at least twice a year," he said, before the Vikings took McCarthy.

McCarthy, 21, led the Wolverines to a 15-0 record and a National Championship this season. However, the fact he threw relatively few passes compared with other top quarterback prospects left him as something of an unknown to some scouts and teams.

He's the first Michigan quarterback taken in the opening round of the draft since Jim Harbaugh went to the Bears in 1987. There was some speculation that Harbaugh, McCarthy's coach while at Michigan and current leader of the LA Chargers , might trade away star Justin Herbert to land his former protege.

But in the end, it was not meant to be.

— Dave Boucher

Keep calm and watch on

Dressed in a custom ice blue tux —his nickname is Frozone, after the "Incredibles" character — Mike Sainristil spent Thursday night in Ann Arbor, waiting to be drafted by the NFL. He was surrounded by family and friends, including neighbors from his hometown, Everett, Mass. Sainristil, a University of Michigan defensive back, said he wasn't nervous. True to his suit, true to his nickname, he was calm and cool. "I feel good," he said

Also: At the party, the room cheered when JJ McCarthy was drafted.

— Georgea Kovanis

First day draws record attendance

We expected the numbers to be big, but they really were huge.

The first day of the NFL draft in Detroit drew massive attendance, according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Speaking from the draft stage Thursday night, Goodell said it was a draft record with more than 270,000 people.

—Dave Boucher

New to Detroit and confused by this word phrase around the draft scene? We've got you.

Form:Sometimes it's "Whatupdoe!" — all one word; But it can also be "What up doe," written in three words, also is commonly used and is acceptable. While often followed with an exclamation point, such punctuation is not always necessary; it just depends on context and how it is used by the subject.

Usage:Similar to the Hawaiian "Aloha," "Whatupdoe!" can mean hello or goodbye. "Doe" is a contraction of the word "though," and does not represent an actual person or a female hoofed ruminant ungulate of the Cervidae family (a female deer).

Alternate meanings:What are you doing? What do you want to do (casually/collegially, or in response to another's use of fighting words, i.e: "I'll whoop yo' a--! response); "Whatupdoe?! Note the change in punctuation, with an addition of a question mark followed by the exclamation point for emphasis. This iteration is typically used with the physical gesture of hands raised or outstretched, signaling it's about to go down/the proverbial poop is about to hit the fan.

— James Hill

Fireworks and a flyover spark chant

Detroit mayor warned of capacity issues before draft

Mayor Mike Duggan had warned visitors last month to plan their NFL draft trip and arrive early because the downtown footprint would fill up, though he touted other remote options nearby. The fenced area in downtown Detroit filled around the time of rapper Big Sean's performance and hundreds of visitors awaiting entry were turned away before 6:30 p.m.

Duggan said in March: "I want people to start thinking about this and their experience. If you were at the draft in Las Vegas or Kansas City, everybody was inside the NFL fence. You swiped in and they accommodated everyone.

"Here, our fenced area is in downtown, it's not going to be as big. I'm guessing one in three or one in four people who are down here are actually going to be inside the NFL fenced zone."

Duggan could not be immediately reached Thursday.

The mayor, among draft planning officials from Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission, said that while visitors may technically be outside of the NFL OnePass zone, there are options outside the footprint in Capitol Park, Beacon Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park, Corktown and along Woodward Avenue to watch and participate in NFL draft activities.

"What the team here has done has created so many other spaces where you're going to be able to watch and hear the draft," Duggan said at the time.

— Dana Afana

Check out Big Sean's set here

Big Sean was in his element Thursday night, whipping up a festive hometown performance to kick off NFL draft festivities in downtown Detroit.

Looking out over a sea of Detroit Lions' Honolulu blue peppered with pockets of team colors from teams across the NFL's other 31 markets, the homegrown rapper performed a half-hour set traversing his career catalog. It was part of an NFL draft that promised to lean hard into Detroit's rich musical legacy — including an ESPN broadcast that launched Thursday night with a Smokey Robinson voiceover and Motown's "Get Ready."

With thousands packing the area around the hangar-sized bandshell at Cadillac Square, awaiting the 8 p.m. draft start, the atmosphere had the sizzling noise and anticipation of a big music festival. It was a brisk but sunny evening as Detroit stepped onto center stage of the sports world.

Big Sean donned a bandana and Aidan Hutchinson Lions jersey for the occasion, acknowledging other fan bases on hand ("I see the Vikings, I see the Ravens, I see the Bears") but drawing a roar when he shouted out the Lions and coach Dan Campbell for their hot 2023-24 season.

"You gotta respect that," Big Sean said, later vowing the team is ultimately Super Bowl-bound: "The Lions are going to get their shot — I can feel it."

— Brian McCollum

Boxed out of the main event, these fans went high

A gaggle of football fans gathered on the roof of the garage need the corner of Griswold and Lafayette in downtown Detroit to try to steal a view into the NFL main stage after officials barred the gates, citing full capacity.

— Matthew Dolan

Draft fans took the roof of a downtown Detroit parking garage to try to steal a look into the NFL draft after officials barred the gates, citing full capacity on Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024

An electric opening to the draft with a hometown guest

The Detroit Lions introduced the world to the city with a warm welcome to kick off the NFL draft.

Current players and past legends joined NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Detroit icon Eminem on the draft stage in the heart of Campus Martius Park to start the 2024 NFL draft. Jared Goff , freshly-extended Amon-Ra St. Brown , Aidan Hutchinson, Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders walked out onto the stage with a dramatic entrance.

Goodell came out first to a wave of boos, as is custom, then it turned into a raucous cheer when Eminem came out.

Football fans fill the NFL Draft theater and overflow area on Thursday, April 25, 2024 during the first day of the NFL draft in Detroit.

Then, the Lions legends graced the stage, and the crowd went crazy.

St. Brown, now $120 million richer, was the first player to greet the crowd. He welcomed the massive crowd in attendance and then started a chant for his quarterback standing behind him.

"Before we get off the stage, I need to hear one thing, JA-RED GOFF, JA-RED GOFF," St. Brown said, before trailing off and letting the strong Honolulu blue contingent in attendance take it from there.

— Jared Ramsey

Surgery is no barrier for devoted fan

As a lifelong Lions fan who has been through the team's hardships and reveled in their successful last season, Ben Seifert, 24, of Troy couldn't miss the draft in Detroit. Even if a basketball game gone wrong did just earn him reconstructive surgery on his foot. It involved multiple screws and plates.

Sporting a Sanders jersey and knee scooter, he rolled up to the theater as presenters took the stage.

He got to Hart Plaza about 3:30 p.m. and used the handicap entrance without issue to get through. He had to navigate getting over some curbs, but he's an athletic guy, and everyone had been pretty courteous, he said.

He wanted to come out for the atmosphere and to see the young players.

"Broken foot's not going to stop me," he said.

— Darcie Moran

Check out all of the NFL draft looks here

Designer tennis shoes, grills and, of course, Cartier buffs all made an appearance on the NFL draft red carpet Thursday but many of the prospects chose to use the red carpet as an opportunity to honor their families and communities.

About a dozen of the top NFL draft prospects walked the red carpet at the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit in suits widely ranging in colors, from salmon to pastel green, before the first round of the draft later in the evening.

Terrion Arnold had two photos on the inside of his suit: one of the first time he started playing football and another of his family with him for signing day.

— Adrienne Roberts

Showing off the fit on the red carpet

Queuing up for the QLINE

Long lines form for Detroit's QLINE street car near downtown Detroit during the prelude to the NFL Draft, Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024

'The scene in Detroit is insanity'

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport chimed in on how this NFL draft experience in Detroit compares to other recent drafts.

Barry Sanders has arrived

Sticker-shock for excited fans

Zach Lorenc, 18, and his dad Shae Lorenc, 51, said they waited about an hour to buy some tacos. It was roughly $35 for 5 quesadillas and two drinks.

"It was the only food we could get," Zach said.

Zach Lorenc, 18, and his dad Shae Lorenc, 51, of Novi enjoy NFL draft day in Detroit, Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024

Still, the pair from Novi said they expected big crowds and were just excited to experience the draft in person.

— Dave Boucher

App tells fans: We're at max capacity, try tomorrow

Thousands of NFL fans move along Woodward Avenue and near Campus Martius and the NFL draft theater area hours before the start of the draft in Detroit on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

The NFL draft application for mobile phones told fans around 6:45 that the main zone of the festivities is at capacity and won't re-open today (there are remote sites outside the gates for viewing parties). The app instructed fans that draft Day 2 open at noon tomorrow.

— Christina Hall

Big time for Big Sean

Tens of thousands of fans screamed back lyrics to Big Sean as he performed at the NFL draft two hours before the start of the event. The crowds were so thick that the NFL draft paused general admission at about 6:30, turning away hundreds from the gates.

Big Sean performs before thousands of people at the NFL Draft in downtown Detroit, Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Big Sean noted he attended high school at Cass Tech, just around the corner from a stage now at the heart of the NFL universe.

Wearing a black Aidan Hutchinson jersey, he told the crowd to follow their dreams and to expect another big season from the Detroit Lions.

— Dave Boucher

Full capacity for General Admission

At 6:30 p.m., the NFL draft announced a pause in general admission entry. "Please visit Grand Circus Park or otherd Day in the D viewing parties."

— Matthew Dolan

Kids on the Corner

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, parents and children from across the region lined up at the Corner Ballpark, which is a hub for youth activities during the draft.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Corner will host football clinics and watch parties for kids and families.

The Corner, home to Detroit PAL, sits at what's considered hallowed sports grounds of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull, where Tiger Stadium stood.

Families gather Thursday afternoon at The Corner Ballpark, which is hosting football clinics and watch parties throughout the NFL draft.

"Thrilled is the word that comes to mind for the city of Detroit. It's really special," said Fred Hunter, CEO of Detroit PAL on Thursday. As PAL celebrates its 55th season, Hunter is hopeful that the city will leave a great impression on fans.

"I want people to come out and enjoy this unique opportunity we have."

The Corner's will host on-field football clinics for children ages 6 to 14, other activities for kids including an obstacle course and Hail Mary pass attraction, as well as food trucks Thursday through 8 p.m., Friday 3:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. As teams make their picks in the draft, the Corner will host watch parties. Participation is first-come first-serve and registration on the NFL's One Pass app is required, according to the NFL draft's website

— Eric Guzmán

Lots of people and the city looks great!

Entry 2 is closed

The NFL draft says Entry 2 is now closed because of crowd capacity. Plan to use Entry 1 (Jefferson and Randolph) or Entry 3 (Cadillac Square) instead.

— Eric D. Lawrence

Time to roll out the...

As the crowds swarm below, advertising takes to the skies

The zone around the draft Thursday afternoon was treated to an aerial parade of by-planes pulling advertisements in a giant circle above the crowds. Many were for marijuana sales. They were joined by the thrump-thrumping of hovering helicopters, making the skies above downtown Detroit filled with its own kind of traffic jam.

Aerial advertisments filled the skies of downtown Detroit as crowds swelled for the NFL Draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024

— Matthew Dolan

Beware: This gate into the draft zone is very crowded

The NFL draft cautioned around 5:15 p.m. that its Entry 2 on Griswold Street " is exceptionally congested and causing delays." You've been warned!

— Brian Manzullo

Crowds swell downtown streets as draft approaches

Downtown Detroit grew increasingly crowded through the afternoon.

Downtown Detroit crowds swell in anticipation of the 2024 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024

As 5 p.m. approached, People Mover cars were packed with visitors and nearly at full capacity.

Down on Woodward Avenue, the line to see Detroit retired Lions running back Billy Sims stretched for half a block.

Romney Funderburg, 25, of Romulus, said the hour-wait for Sims' autograph was worth it, and he plans to give the inscribed photo to his father, a retired firefighter who is a big Billy Sims fan.

"When I first got a No. 20 jersey, he asked me, 'Do you know who wore 20?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, Barry Sanders.' He's like 'But do you know who wore 20 before Barry Sanders?' And he told me, 'Billy Sims,'" he said.

"As soon as I saw that he was here, I had to go get something for my dad," he explained.

Funderburg also said he was surprised by the size of the crowds in downtown.

"I'm not used to seeing this many people," he said. "And it's not just people form Detroit, it's people from all of the country. One of my friends is working the draft and he told me expect at least 300,000 people here."

— JC Reindl

When in doubt, think hoofing it or ride-sharing

If you're avoiding the perils of driving downtown during the draft — good call!

Between traffic, limited parking, street closures, or, maybe, you plan to do a little responsible celebratory day-drinking, navigating the draft by foot or a ride-share service might be most convenient.

If traveling by taxi or through a ride-sharing service, there are designated pickup locations throughout downtown Detroit. Pay close attention to the streets listed in your app for the pickup area nearest to you, or visit nfl.com for a full list of pickup and drop-off locations.

You'll also want to build in some time to walk to your pickup location before confirming your car to avoid missing your driver and risking a no-show fee.

— Lyndsay C. Green

The Honolulu blue is unmistakable as crowds begin to fill in around the main theater on Thursday, April 25, 2024 for the first day of the NFL draft in Detroit.

Is it Gov. Tirico?

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer , posing as a sportscaster in a video posted Thursday on X, filmed video of her asking more than a half-dozen people Wednesday at Gilly's in Detroit "the question that is on everyone's mind: Who are the Lions playing in Super Bowl 59?"

The answers ranged from the Kansas City Chiefs , who won the Super Bowl the last two years, to the Baltimore Ravens to the Buffalo Bills . NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico, who lives in Ann Arbor, picked Kansas City.

Tweets by GovWhitmer

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan had a "bigger question" on his mind.

"You know, right now, my bigger question, they're letting me announce the fifth round pick, so I'm trying to figure out who they're gonna pick in the fifth round," he said as he spoke into a tiny microphone Whitmer held. "And then, we'll go deal with the ( Miami ) Dolphins later."

"The Dolphins. Alright, you heard that," Whitmer said.

Whitmer, who studied communications as an undergraduate at Michigan State University, wanted to pursue a career in sports broadcasting before she found her passion in politics.

Tirico told Whitmer: "I wanna be the governor 'cause I was a political science major. So do you wanna job swap?"

"We're gonna job swap," Whitmer said.

"Here we go. Bye," Tirico said with a laugh at the end of the nearly two-minute video.

-Christina Hall

$100 downtown parking

You can drive downtown in the Motor City for the NFL draft, but it'll cost you. Downtown lots and garages charged $50 or more.

One lot on Fort Street posted a sign noting a $60 charge was nearly full.

More: 2024 NFL draft parking: You better have a plan if you're coming to downtown Detroit

Abigail Blumberg was on her way to work at Parc complaining about the surge in parking costs. She usually parks downtown and it typically costs her $12. But today she was flabbergasted by what she saw with parking costs ranging up to $100.

"That's absolutely crazy," she said. Fortunately for her, her workplace covered the cost of the parking Thursday.

But Blumberg said she hopes workers who didn't have the benefit of their parking being paid didn't have to bear the entire cost themselves.

"I really hope that they carpooled and split the cost with somebody else," she said.

And for those taking public transportation to get downtown some had to do a bit of walking. The Qline southbound stops at Little Caesars Arena during the draft. And bus riders saw their typical commutes rerouted around downtown due to road closures related to the draft.

-Clara Hendrickson

Detroit Lions fans look at memorabilia to bid on for the auction during the NFL experience at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Detroit Ambassadog draws fans

While thousands of fans pour through downtown Detroit as the NFL draft consumes the city, Tom McDevitt's dog Bobby, both of whom live in downtown Detroit, caught the eyes of fans who surrounded the furry fellow. Bobby is known as " Detroit Ambassadog " on Instagram, and McDevitt's goal is to highlight the city and pit bulls with Bobby.

"We make fun little social videos," McDevitt said. "We go to all the tailgates, so he's kind of known around the Lions circle of fandom of sorts. We've traveled cross country to support the team and went to San Francisco for the NFC Championship game and met some fans out there. It was fun … he's just enjoying himself. He loves he's a people person and loves getting butt scratches is his favorite thing."

Tom McDevitt and his dog Bobby, known as “Detroit Ambassadog” on Instagram, attending the first day Thursday of NFL draft festivities in downtown Detroit.

Bobby snatched the attention of visitors while wearing a fuzzy lions mane around his neck to show his Detroit Lions spirit, allowing visitors surround him with pets and plenty of love.

"He's a good sport. He wears that he wears work goggles and a hat every once in a while," McDevitt said, who's been a Lions fan for years, including their roughest periods.

"I've never thought this day would come when we would actually be good. And now we have like the highest-paid players in the NFL, that's another mind-blowing thing to think about. But I'm so excited for this upcoming season and for all the smiles that (Bobby) can put on people's faces during the during the tailgate," McDevitt said.

-Dana Afana

Last-minute tips

Do not purchase drinks prior to entering gates. It's like the airport and you'll have to leave them at the gate.
Huntington Place has parking on the rooftop for $20.
Drink prices: Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, $15. Water, $6. Bud Light Seltzer, Crown Royal Whisky Lemonade and Smirnoff Smash Vodka Soda, $16.
There's a hydration station with water for refilling bottles inside the draft footprint at Michigan Avenue and Campus Martius.
Fans attending the NFL draft experience with mobility disabilities can access wheelchairs at the Accessibility Center/Fan Services Center. The center is located on the lefthand side of the entrance to the draft events at Hart Plaza on the south end of Griswold.

-Brendel Hightower, Jalen Williams

Draft fans spill into Capitol Park

Fans enjoyed sun, new football-shaped chairs, good food and local vendors at "Draft Day in the D" at Capitol Park.

A line of mostly Lions fans and one lone Bengals fan waited for loaded mac and cheese and pulled pork from the Slows Bar B Q food truck.

Capitol Park in downtown Detroit was outfitted with football-shaped chairs as the NFL draft got underway Thursday in downtown Detroit.

The Rolling Stoves food truck hyped a smashed cheeseburger and vegan chipotle black bean burger. Detroit Girls Rock is selling T-shirts and varsity jackets. Draft Day in the D is put on by the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

-Anjanette Delgado

40-yard speed racers have a good time

Elite NFL prospects can run 40 yards in just over 4 seconds.

James Zagunis, 7, of Allen Park managed his in about 8 seconds. It wasn't quite enough to beat his friend Theo Gallmeyer, 9, but that doesn't mean James didn't give it his all: He started running a hair early and managed to throw an impressive hip check against a racing Theo, much to the chagrin and approval of the crowd.

"I just dig racing," James said, polarized sunglasses on his forehead and a Jahmyr Gibbs jersey on his back.

"He pushed me!" Theo said, adding he wanted to race to prove he could beat James.

James, Theo and a cadre of others were some of the hundreds of people who participated in the 40-yard-dash, one of the most popular events within the NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza. Fans waited for well over 30 minutes for their chance to sprint down and turf and dive into the mats underneath a scoreboard that displayed their times.

It's all part of experience that they just couldn't miss, said James' dad, Jimmy.

"I think it gives us obviously an opportunity to show what we have as a city, and all the fans and the great people that we have," Jimmy said. "It's good to see fans from all over the world, in Detroit."

A Michigan Man, Theo wants the Lions to take either ex-Wolverine running back Blake Corum or quarterback J.J. McCarthy . James said it didn't matter, as long as they're talented.

"As long as my team is good!" James said.

-Dave Boucher

Lions fans feel the beat

Fans encircled the Lions Honolulu Boom drumline before the team marched its way west down Jefferson Avenue.

"Best drumline in the league," someone shouted from the crowd. They brought the volume up a few notches and then had Lions fans join them to cheer on the Detroit team.

"Let's go Lions!" fans screamed as they grooved and took out their phones to capture the electric moment. Spontaneous chants have broken out all afternoon. Earlier in the day fans screamed out "Jar-ed Goff" in unison in tribute to the Lions quarterback.

'Happy people, welcoming people. That's what we do in Detroit.'

The first pick in the 2024 NFL draft wouldn't come for several hours, but you wouldn't know it by the tens of thousands of people milling around downtown Detroit early Thursday afternoon.

Football fans waited in long lines to get inside the in-depth NFL Draft Experience tent, to get pizza or to throw footballs to huge cutouts of Aidan Hutchinson and other Lions greats.

Others took their pictures with huge helmets of their favorite teams — and in the case of a couple Green Bay Packers fans, to boo next to the helmet of the Minnesota Vikings.

It all boils down to a perfect day for Detroit, said Reiner Calderero, 47, and Chris Guiao, 41.

"This doesn't happen often, especially in the city of Detroit. We haven't had a big event since the Super Bowl like 18 years ago," said Guiao, of Sterling Heights. "We just love all the fans coming in from everywhere."

Reiner Calderero, 47, (front) and Chris Guiao, 41, couldn't wait to visit the NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza early Thursday afternoon. They both said they're proud of the Lions' 2023 season, but equally amped about how well prepared the city appears for people coming to visit. — Reiner Calderero, 47, front, and Chris Guiao, 41, couldn't wait to visit the NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza early Thursday afternoon. They both said they're proud of the Lions' 2023 season, but equally amped about how well-prepared the city appears for people coming to visit.

Even among the Lions-heavy crowd, the duo stood out. Dressed head to toe in Detroit garb, their Luchidore masks went above and beyond the jerseys or hats adorning most fans.

They're not johnny-come-lately fans, they said — although they're welcoming the bandwagon jumpers following the Lions historic playoff run. They've stood by the team through thick and thin, and now, just want to bask in a wonderful moment for the franchise and metro Detroit.

"The people coming in here from all around the world coming in here, they're seeing peaceful people. Happy people, welcoming people. That's what we do in Detroit. We're not like them other cities," said Caldereo, of Warren. "Proud of Detroit."

Guiao agreed.

"It's that cliche: Midwestern hospitality. Everyone's nice. We just want to show everyone that this city is a legitimate city to come visit, come be at, enjoy, have the energy," he said.

-Dave Boucher

A sunny, family-friendly draft day

Parents brought their children out for the NFL draft in Detroit in hopes of cultivating the next generation of fans.

Saliha Elmore, 35, of Detroit walked her 1-year-old son in a stroller on a chilly but sunny spring day in Detroit. "I heard that this was the first draft here, so I wanted to just bring him out, enjoy the weather and just experience this, and that way he can at least say that he's been to a draft before," she said.

Lions fans get an essential Detroit photo by The Fist sculpture on Jefferson Avenue near the NFL Draft Experience in Hart Plaza on the first day of the NFL draft.

While she roots for the Lions, she says that she's not a diehard fan, noting that she's not from Michigan originally. But she hopes her son grows up to root for the Detroit football team and hopes it will make him more connected to the city where he's from.

She appreciated how family-friendly the event at Hart Plaza was and noted how many kids she's seen. She said she appreciated the tent for nursing mothers. "You don't see a lot of nursing stations at a lot of places," she said.

-Clara Hendrickson

A working fountain in Hart Plaza and $51 T-shirts

By midday, thousands of visitors had entered the draft zone and were hanging out around Hart Plaza. The crowd was primarily male and the most common attire was a Detroit Lions jersey.

The city's Dodge Fountain, broken for years but now newly repaired, was on and running.

"It beautiful," said Randy Nelson, 57, of Flushing. "I've never seen it happen."

The Dodge Fountain in Hart Plaza is working again as the NFL draft kicked off Thursday.

One of the longer lines in the early afternoon was for a pop-up store selling official NFL draft merchandise, including adjustable ballcaps and novelty T-shirts priced up to $51.

John Cadwell, of New Hudson, had a friend in the line buy him one of the official Detroit NFL draft caps.

"Only reason I got one is I don't think it's going to come back to Detroit anytime soon," Cadwell said, adding, "I'm the outcast wearing 49ers gear here, but having a good time!"

The afternoon was also an unofficial reintroduction of sorts for Bud Light — an official draft sponsor — and the male football fan demographic, in the wake of last year's controversy and consumer boycott following the beer brand's tie-in with a trans social media star.

There were crowds of men all over Hart Plaza with Bud Light cans in hand.

"This is what the beer vendor had most of," explained Brad Jennings, 32, of Livonia.

-JC Reindl

Get a pep talk from Detroit's favorite coach

Want Lions coach Dan Campbell to predict your future? Stop by Hart Plaza, inside a a replica of Ford Field at the NFL Draft Experience. Wearing a black Lions long-sleeved T-shirt and hat, a mechanical Campbell greeted fans Thursday.

"Welcome to Detroit, draft patron. Have a great time. No seriously, welcome. OK, you can go now," he says in one response. "You've been bruised. I can sit up here and give you coach speak all day long. None of that matters, and you don't want to hear it anyway. You've had enough of that, so take your fortune and get out of here."

The fortune teller game produced small "Grit and Glory Fortunes" cards bearing a photo of Campbell with different messages. One reads: "When we hit hard times, we keep pushing forward. We know what that's about, nobody handles that stuff like we do." Another reads, "The future waits for no one. But if it's looking for us it won't have to look far because we'll be on its front porch kicking the door down."

At the "NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza," an animatronic Dan Campbell delivers "Grit and Glory Fortunes."

Longtime Lions fan and native Detroiter Felicia Hodges, 47, said she heard about the Campbell fortune teller as she stood waiting in line to take a photo with the Lions' helmet near Hart Plaza. She can't know for certain what the future holds for her team, but she sees good things coming for the upcoming season.

"I am so excited. I'm very happy, because they've come a long long way. But we're going to get there eventually to that Super Bowl," she said. Over the past 20 years, she's seen the team through good and bad. "When you're a diehard fan, it's win, lose or draw. Whatever. I never waver one moment ever for all these years," Hodges said.

-Clara Hendrickson

Noon: Fans encounter team gear, barricades as draft opens

As the NFL draft kicked off in Detroit, football fans from around the world descended on downtown donning their teams' jerseys. But most found themselves in a sea of Honolulu blue as Detroit Lions fans new and old gathered for the massive sports event to see their teams' picks.

A heavy security presence dotted the perimeter of the fenced-off area surrounding Hart Plaza and the larger draft area as fans began lining up down Griswold Street early to enter the main gate for the NFL Draft Experience.

Cars heading down Fort Street toward Woodward encountered metal gates, forcing them to turn around and find a different route. During the draft's takeover, downtown workers have had to alter their commutes and found their usual parking spots blocked off.

Inside the area around Hart Plaza fans took photos next to their teams' helmets. The line for the Lions' helmet was the longest. They stood below the Joe Louis fist facing the Detroit River, their faces beaming. Some grabbed a bite to eat a local vendors.

For those needing a break, the area included designated prayer and sensory rooms.

-Clara Hendrickson

Celebrate the Lions' epic season with the Detroit Free Press' new commemorative book : "From Grit to Glory: The Epic Story of the Detroit Lions' 2023 Renaissance." Order now at Lions.PictorialBook.com !

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL draft in Detroit: Live updates

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