THU AM News: NFL Draft’s $80M local economic impact eclipsed earlier projections, report finds; Pro-vaping group touting suit against state law it says will harm retailers

July 17, 2025

— The 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay had an estimated $80 million economic impact in Brown County, exceeding earlier projections by nearly $60 million.

That’s according to an economic impact report released yesterday by Experience Greater Green Bay that was conducted by market research firm Sportsimpacts. It focused on the local and statewide impacts of this year’s NFL Draft, held April 24-26 near the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field.

Along with driving economic activity in Brown County, the study found the event had a statewide impact of nearly $105 million. That’s above an earlier projection of $94 million.

Sportsimpacts also found Green Bay had more than 360,000 unique visitors for the draft, updating an earlier estimate of more than 312,000 unique attendees released by the city.

Brad Toll, President and CEO of Discover Green Bay, notes the event gave the city an international spotlight for three days.

“Each and every event we bring into Green Bay exposes our region to new audiences, both in-person and through media,” he said in a release. “This was a larger stage than most, and we’re thrilled visitors had a great experience that will bring them back and inspire them to encourage friends and family to visit. The long-term benefits of this success will be felt for years to come.”

Thirty percent of all attendees were from outside the state, and more than 83% of those coming from outside Wisconsin were visiting Green Bay for the first time, the study found. It also shows 85% of attendees drove to Green Bay for the draft while 14% flew and others took a train or charter bus.

Among the non-local visitors, 21.4% stayed with local family or friends for the draft. Sportsimpacts notes that’s the largest percentage for this measure it’s seen for an event in 25 years of consulting, “highlighting the regional draw and ‘homecoming’ effect for Packers fans.”

Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said “while we’re pleased with the economic impact, the broader community impacts from the Draft will also leave a lasting legacy.”

Meanwhile, local tourism organization Discover Green Bay points to findings from data analytics platform Zartico showing change in overall spending was up 145% during the event based on cellphone and credit card tracking. Spending was also up 20% in “key tourism” categories, the report shows.

— A pro-vaping trade organization has filed a federal lawsuit aimed at blocking a state law the group says would “threaten the closure” of about 3,000 small businesses in Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites for Alternatives to Smoking and Tobacco, Inc., or WiscoFAST, yesterday announced it has filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to block a state law due to take effect in September. The suit targets DOR Secretary David Casey in his official capacity.

The group says the bill will direct the state Department of Revenue to impose fines on manufacturers and sellers of electronic nicotine delivery systems — such as e-cigarettes or vapes — that lack FDA marketing authorization.

Tyler Hall, president of WiscoFAST, says the law will “strip Wisconsinites of their right to purchase the vaping products they use to stay smoke-free” while also threatening the livelihood of small businesses across Wisconsin that sell these products.

“This law disregards the FDA’s careful approach to regulating [electronic nicotine delivery systems] and could push former smokers back to deadly combustible cigarettes,” he said in a statement. “We’re fighting to protect consumer choice and the livelihoods of thousands of Wisconsin workers.”

The lawsuit claims the law being targeted violates the U.S. Constitution, arguing it usurps the FDA’s authority to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to the announcement. It also argues the law violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by “arbitrarily prohibiting” products with non-tobacco-derived nicotine while allowing some tobacco-derived nicotine products.

The DOR did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

See more in the release.

— The state Public Service Commission has begun taking applications from approved project partners in the latest federal grant funding round for broadband expansion.

The Wisconsin Broadband Office yesterday issued details on the latest Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment program funding round, called BEAD Benefit of the Bargain. The PSC will now start accepting project applications from groups that have previously gotten approval for their letter of intent.

After reviewing letters for various projects under BEAD, the PSC has approved 41 groups in the state to participate in the sub-granting selection process for the BEAD Benefit of the Bargain round, the email shows.

Applications are due July 28 before 5 p.m.

See a map of available locations and project units here and approved applicants here.

See more in a recent story on broadband expansion in the state.

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is slamming the Trump administration’s move to shut down a LGBTQ+ youth services program within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as an “outrageous and cruel attack.”

In a statement on the third anniversary of the lifeline, the Madison Dem said the administration is getting rid of a “key part” of the program that she helped create. The LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services will be closed effective tomorrow, according to an official notice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“I’ll fight tooth and nail to stop this administration from taking away this precious lifeline, and I call on my Republican colleagues who have long supported this program to fight for these kids, too,” Baldwin said.

The notice from SAMHSA says the lifeline will now “focus on serving all help seekers” including those that previously got help through the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program.

“Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress,” the agency said. “Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help.”

Baldwin’s release notes she wrote the legislation to create the lifeline. It has received nearly 16.5 million contacts since launching, including 11.1 million calls, 2.9 million texts and 2.4 million chats.

The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group that played a role in the lifeline program, says the service being shut down has helped provide life-saving services for more than 1.3 million young people. CEO Jaymes Black says the move is “incomprehensible.”

“The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous — as is the administration’s choice to remove the ‘T’ from the acronym ‘LGBTQ+’ in their announcement,” he said in a statement last month.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

Amtrak’s Borealis line, from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities, hits 250,000 rider milestone

How latest Trump administration tariffs and trade disputes are affecting commerce in Wisconsin

TOPICS

AGRIBUSINESS

– Farmers First Act aims to expand rural health support

CONSTRUCTION

– City leaders block voter referendum for Lake Monona shoreline overhaul

– Firm picked to study development potential around American Family Field

ECONOMY

– Economic impact of NFL draft in Green Bay soars past pre-event projections

– 2025 NFL Draft’s economic impact on Green Bay area was $72.9M, exceeding expectations