The NFL Draft in Detroit in April broke attendance records with an estimated 775,000 fans. It was also very good for the economy in Metro Detroit, according to a study by Dr. Patrick Rishe, director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis. Rishe, who analyzed spending levels by both visiting fans and locals, and the NFL.
Crain's Detroit Business reports:
Along with shattering attendance records, the 2024 NFL Draft brought an economic impact of $213.6 million, according to a report released Thursday by Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission. That figure includes $161.3 million in new spending in the region created by the Draft itself.
Around $106.4 million of that $161.3 million will be retained long-term within the region as new income for households, business owners and tax revenue, according to the report. The $106.4 million also represents gross impact on local income. The overall tax impact from visitor spending during the draft is around $12.3 million, the report states. The Detroit Sports Commission’s Living Legacy Initiative helped distribute $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations during the draft.
