• Loading stock data...
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

Lions President Wants NFL Draft Back in Detroit—Takes Shot at Packers

The Motor City smashed the attendance record last year for the NFL Draft, and as the event shifts this weekend to rival Green Bay, the Lions are already thinking about a return engagement. 

Detroit Free Press

Lions president Rod Wood is quite clear about what he thinks about the rival Packers hosting this year’s National Football League Draft in Green Bay. 

“There’s no way Green Bay will come close [in attendance]. They’ll finish second, or as I said offstage, they’ll finish third like they did last year,” Wood said at the Detroit Economic Club, also referring to the Packers’ 2024 finish in the NFC North division. 

Jabs at a rival team aside, Wood is already pushing to bring the draft back to the Motor City. Detroit drew an event-record 775,000 people last year, celebrating the ongoing rebirth of the city’s downtown and representing one of the largest sports events in Michigan history. 

“I’m trying to get the NFL to consider bringing it back, because I don’t think they’ll ever top it,” he said. “I’ve mentioned to [NFL commissioner] Roger [Goodell], ‘How could you ever do better than this?’ I think it’s probably going to be a few years from now. A lot of cities are bidding on it. … It’ll be competitive. But I know when they reconsider Detroit, whenever that is, it’s not going to be tough for the league to support bringing it back here.”

Schedule Watching 

The Lions, meanwhile, also figure to be a major part of the league’s upcoming schedule release. Detroit previously made the leap into a top national draw, a status expected to go this season to the Commanders. The Lions’ 2025 season, however, features home games against the perennially popular Cowboys and Steelers, and road games at the Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles, Bengals, Chiefs, Commanders, Rams, and Ravens.

All of that is in addition to the normal rotation of home-and-away intradivisional games against the Bears, Packers, and Vikings, as well as several other lesser contests. The Lions are coming off two straight division titles and entered last season’s playoffs as the top seed, but they were upset by the Commanders.

“I would expect that you’ll see us on prime time a lot,” Wood said. “We have a road schedule that’s maybe as tough as anything, at least on paper. … If you like Sunday 1 p.m. [ET] games, you’re going to be very disappointed because there aren’t going to be a lot of those.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

YouTube’s Revised NFL Game Rating Still Has Fox, ESPN Execs Upset 

Adjusted viewership metrics from the streamer reignited debate about the game.

Massachusetts Sues Kalshi To Block Sports Prediction Markets

A lawsuit claims the company’s offerings are indistinguishable from traditional sports bets.

FanDuel, Jaguars Reach $5M Deal Over Employee Theft

A Jaguars employee stole $20 million and gambled much of it with FanDuel.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
September 12, 2025

UEFA Delays Overseas Matches Ruling As LaLiga Miami Game Looms

Barcelona-Villarreal is scheduled for late December at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sep 11, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles past Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) in the second half at Target Center.
September 12, 2025

As WNBA Grows, Engelbert Says Its Playoff Field Won’t for a While

Eight of thirteen WNBA teams made the playoffs this year.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of a Wilson basketball and the Dallas Wings logo during the game between the Wings and the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center.
September 11, 2025

Democratic Women’s Caucus Urges WNBA to End CBA Stalemate

The league and WNBPA must reach an agreement by Oct. 31.
Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks in a press conference during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center.
September 11, 2025

Silver Says Free Highlights Are an Issue As NBA Begins $77B Deal

Silver called basketball a “highlight-based sport.”
September 11, 2025

Greg Norman Leaves LIV As Golf World Continues to Shift

Norman relinquished the league’s CEO role in January.
September 11, 2025

Trump’s Golf Empire Grows With 5th Big Tournament in 2 Years

The DP World Tour is heading to Trump International Golf Links Ireland.