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The Detroit NFL Draft 2024, was an experience that many Detroiters and Michiganders will never experience again. If you missed it, well you missed out on making memories of a life time! Trying to get to the Draft area was a sight to see. Cars and people were everywhere and parking was a challenge. There were so many people downtown during the Draft that people were seen parking as far away as the Midtown area and walking or taking the Q-Line down to Campus Maritus Park. I think honestly the best experience came from those who walked up and down the streets. Downtown Detroit was set ablaze with excitement, comradery and cheers. You could literally feel all those things in the air and people who did not know each other were seen speaking to strangers.

Over the course of the 4-day weekend, the NFL Draft Experience kicked-off on Wednesday night, April 24, 2024. Downtown Detroit was the spot to party after getting off from your long work day. Continuing on with the official draft day events on Thursday April 25, 2024, the theme of the NFL and its players, could be summarized by a theme: NFL Community Service Day. Events happened all afternoon, there were meet-and-greets, free food drinks, giveaways and autographs.

In fact, the USAA hosted local military for the Salute to Service Event with Detroit All-Pro Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The reason for the event was for St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, to reflect and share on his experience in becoming an NFL Player. Specifically, he mentioned about his unique draft day memories, growing up and his new 4-year,

120-million-dollar contract. He told the audience, "Ahhh, I go sign it in a few hours, I feel like nothing has really changed for me. I'm the same guy ummm and I'm just excited, you know, obviously I'm thankful for the Lions and my agent and everything that went down. I feel like I am the same guy, I'm going to do what I do. I am not going to change for anyone, or anything. I am going to enjoy what I do!"

This event that gave insight to the life of All-Pro WR (4th Round NFL Draft Pick, 2021) was held in Midtown Detroit at HopCat (Detroit location). Through its partnership with the NFL's "Salute to Service" program, the USAA honors the military community all season long by hosting thousands of military members, veterans, and their families at dozens of NFL events. According to the USAA, this event represents the evolution of authentic military appreciation by fostering a relationship with the NFL, and to bring the military closer to a game they love.

Detroit Lions Brian Branch w/ Aubree Mantei, Seamus Belill at Detroit NFL Draft Party, Sponsored by Comcast

Just down the street at the Xfinity Store at 3907 Woodward Ave was another event that took place and was community focused. The event was intentionally held from 2-7pm prior to the first-round pick of the draft. Comcast wanted to celebrate the draft with food and drinks with their customers, local non-profit partners, area employees and the people from communities that they serve in Detroit. The guest appearances of the affair were former Detroit Lions, Lomas Brown and current Lions player, Brian Branch.

The 2024 Detroit NFL Draft did not come to disappoint the city of Detroit. In fact, it set an attendance record of the most attended NFL Drafts to date. The new record is set at more than 775,000 fans were Downtown and had attended the 2024 NFL Draft that was held in our very own backyard, Detroit City! Governor Whitmer told the media Saturday April 27, 2024 that "We have shown the world what the Motor City is all about."