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November 18, 2024
GREEN BAY – With the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay now less than six months away, the NFL and Green Bay Packers welcomed 88 Wisconsin businesses to Lambeau Field to kick off the 2025 NFL Draft Source program.
Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs with the Packers, said the businesses were chosen out of hundreds that applied to be considered for work related to the draft.
Popkey said the NFL Draft Source program was implemented to promote equitable and inclusive procurement practices through networking, capacity-building activities and competitive bidding opportunities with NFL vendors for local and diverse, experienced, event-ready suppliers leading up to, during and after the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 2025 draft will be held in and around the Lambeau Field campus April 23-25.
“Whether it’s the anticipation of a game at Lambeau Field or the start of an important program like the NFL Draft Source, there’s a certain level of excitement that comes along with that,” Popkey said. “There is excitement all around Green Bay and the state.”
More on the program
Myisha Boyce, 2025 NFL Draft Source lead, said businesses accepted into the program come from all over the state.
“The accepted businesses will be profiled in an online member directory, which NFL contractors and partners can leverage to identify local suppliers to fulfill their subcontracting needs,” she said. “It’s important to point out that inclusion in the online directory does not guarantee contract awards, though. What it does guarantee is that (businesses) will be exposed to these buyers.”
Boyce said as an example, in a prior market that hosted the draft, there were 30-plus businesses in the food/beverage category, so some sectors can be “extremely competitive.”
“Food and beverage is one of those very competitive markets in a program like this,” she said. “You’re still competing with others in the program, so it’s important to get your name out there – they all work at different speeds. Different industries seek services at different times – don’t compare yourself to the person sitting next to you. It could be months before you hear anything, and then all of a sudden, you do. Waiting is the hard part.”
Boyce said some of the 88 businesses in the program have already been contacted.
“Those were our early-stage vendors,” she said. “They were contacted immediately after the directory was available. As word spreads and opportunities arise, there will be even more opportunities available.”
Though the directory aims to provide vendors with a comprehensive list of businesses, Boyce said “vendors can pick businesses not listed in the directory.”
“There is a prioritization with NFL Draft Source first, but that doesn’t mean source only,” she said. “The 88 businesses selected for this program won’t be able to fill all that capacity (for the draft). Some businesses from other parts of the country have great relationships with the vendors, but we want to prioritize the folks (in the program).”
Requirements of membership
This past summer, the NFL and Packers encouraged women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities and those in the LGBTQ+ community who own Wisconsin-based businesses to apply to be considered for 2025 NFL draft contracts.
To be considered for the program, Boyce said certain qualifications had to be met, including:
- Headquartered in Wisconsin
- Been in operation since April 2022
- Be 51% owned and operated by a minority, woman, person with disabilities, LGBTQ+ or veteran individual or individuals
- Be certified by at least one of the NFL-approved certifying agencies
- Be in good standing and eligible to do business in Wisconsin
- Be the direct source of the goods and services offered
- Provide products or services requested by the Draft Source program
“The NFL makes support for diverse business owners a priority during its annual draft,” Boyce said. “When Detroit hosted the draft this spring, minority-owned businesses received $12.1 million worth of contracts, about 40% of all local contracts for draft-related work.”
Boyce said representatives with the NFL Draft Source program did their due diligence before selecting businesses.
“Rest assured, we’ve gone through (their) websites, social media platforms, marketing materials and reviewed all those things to determine (they) are, in fact, event-ready and ready to help us put on this draft,” she said.
Popkey said eligible companies can compete for a variety of contract work.
“Some of the work might be related to audio-visual, entertainment, marketing, transportation, finance, floral, janitorial and other things,” he said. “To pull off such a big event as the NFL Draft, it takes a lot of different people and businesses working together.”
Other examples of where businesses/vendors might be utilized with the draft, Boyce said, include the NFL Draft Experience (free football festival), the NFL Draft Concert Series (free musical performances and entertainment) and the NFL Draft Theatre (where draft picks are announced).
“Be ready, businesses,” she said. “When I tell you the NFL moves at a speed you will not believe, it is uncomfortable at times. I’m not sure how much prep time you are used to here in Wisconsin, but from here on out, the NFL could be calling at any time.”
Boyce said businesses that can provide services with very short turn-around times are needed.
“Sometimes, if you get a call on a Friday night, the turn-around time might be for the following Monday,” she said.
Though the 2025 NFL Draft is the focus for putting the network of businesses together, Boyce said the directory will continue after April and “businesses could get NFL-related opportunities even after the draft is over.”
“This will put businesses into a national database for use 365 days a year,” she said. “The businesses participating in this program will be able to have their services expand beyond the local scene.”
Popkey said there are a lot of great events where the source program can be of use locally/statewide, but there will be opportunities from out-of-state markets, too.
“There are other NFL markets that surround us,” he said. “That might be Minnesota, Illinois or Michigan – they might need support for some of their events, too. That’s where this great group of Wisconsin businesses can jump in, too.”
