- Part of Lot 3 at Lambeau Field is closed for construction crews and equipment, marking the first activity where the Draft theater will be, at the corner of Lombardi Avenue and Oneida Street
- The first phase of road closures for Draft consruction begins Saturday morning, closing the following roads in both directions until May:
- Oneida Street, between Lombardi Avenue and the southernmost point of Lambeau Field Lot 1
- Armed Forces Drive, between Oneida Street and the 'Blue' parking lot across the street from the Resch Center
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
STORY UPDATE:
Yellow fences outside Lambeau Field now serve as the first sign of reality for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.
With work beginning this weekend, officials and fans said the workarounds with road closures will all be worth it.
For Green Bay resident, Tony Schneider, traffic cones and fences mean the hype of the NFL Draft is in the air.
"As someone who was born and raised in Green Bay, I’m very excited for it," Schneider said.
Video shows Schneider sporting the Green Bay's exclusive NFL Draft hat.
As he and other fans run to grab the latest NFL Draft gear, they’ll also run into the first phase of road closures for the big event.
"It’s an exciting time certainly for everyone at Lambeau Field," Aaron Popkey, Green Bay Packers Public Affairs director, said.
Popkey said Phase 1 will focus on the NFL Draft theater, which will be built at the corner of Lombardi Ave. and Oneida St. beginning Saturday morning.
"These are moments we’ve all been waiting for and these next few weeks are going to fly, so we’re going to make sure to enjoy it, let the excitement build," Popkey said.
Not all of Oneida St. will be closed — Only the stretch between Lombardi Ave and the Stadium's Lot 1 entrance will be blocked off and will stay closed from Saturday until early May.
Armed Forces Drive will also be blocked off — prompting traffic adjustments that will impact anyone going to a game or concert at the Resch.
"We’re asking fans and guests to come early, to plan early," Terry Charles, PMI Entertainment Group corporate communication senior manager, said. "We will have parking in the Blue Lot, which is directly across the street from the Resch Center."
That parking will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, he said.
Charles said it’s going to be a learning curve, as a few events at the center will be affected by the closures.
"Hopefully, a small price to pay for having a tremendous event, the NFL Draft, which may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Charles said.
Officials said the next phase of road closures will begin in mid-April.
"It’s only going to be a weekend, so the little inconveniences, let’s put up with it and have some fun," Schneider said.
Officials said road closures on Oneida St. will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday.
The Packers advise the public to stay updated with the latest regarding road closures, as parking lot availability and business hours will adjust in the coming weeks.
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ORIGINAL REPORTING:
Friday is the last day until May you'll be able to drive the section of Oneida Street adjacent to Lambeau Field. The portion from Lot 1 at Lambeau up to Lombardi Avenue will be closed starting Saturday for construction of the NFL Draft theater.
Watch Titletown neighborhood reporter Karl Winter's full story here:
The first visual signs of the NFL Draft have arrived at the corner of Lombardi Avenue and Oneida Street, where the Draft Theater will be.
Crews and construction equipment have arrived to prepare building the theater. The green barriers separating the parking lot and Oneida Street have been removed and replaced by traffic cones.
Oneida will close in this area Saturday morning at 7 a.m., and remain closed until early May. Part of Armed Forces Drive will also close.
"Traffic will be routed southbound on Oneida Street, to Lombardi, to Holmgren [Way], Holmgren to Mike McCarthy [Way], and then back over to Oneida Street," Ashwaubenon Village Manager Joel Gregozeski said.
The detour will be the same in the opposite direction, Gregozeski says. He adds that the closures won't just affect commuters — but anyone coming to an event at the Resch Expo or Resch Center in the next six weeks.
"Parking is going to be a concern," he said, "[because] part of the closures will likely include portions of the parking lots over at Lambeau Field."
The Green Bay Gamblers hockey team — which plays at the Resch — posted this graphic, saying anyone coming to their games will have to enter on the Holmgren Way side of Armed Forces Drive.
"Coming off of Holmgren Way onto Armed Forces to get to the Blue lot for parking is open," Gregozeski said. "And then obviously at this time, until we get closer to the Draft days, on-street parking, where it is permitted, is still allowed."
The Packers tell NBC 26 they'll be releasing more information about parking lot closures sometime Friday. Stay tuned on NBC 26 on air and online.
