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NFL Draft Spurs Security Concerns
Local and state leaders in Green Bay are asking for an extra $1 million to cover the cost of the NFL Draft. Specifically, they want $1.25 million, and the draft is still a week away.
Brown County’s sheriff, along with the police chiefs in Green Bay and Ashwaubenon on Monday said they need the money to cover the extra costs of providing public safety.
“Our personnel have been on site since the first shipment arrived,” Green Bay Metro Fire Chief Matthew Knott said at a news conference. “They'll continue to be on site til that last last shipment leaves.”
In all, the chief said, that will be more than a month.
Then there will be the costs for the draft itself. That will mean a lot more police officers on the ground in both Green Bay and Ashwaubenon. As well as a lot more firefighters and paramedics on standby.
Ashwaubenon Village President Mary Kardoskee says the NFL Draft will be a lot bigger than any Packers game that the two towns have seen.
“This is a huge lift. It is a huge lift for our city, and there are people out there that say they don't think that we can do this because we're too small,” Kardoskee said. “I disagree.”
The state of Wisconsin already pledged $2 million for draft costs.
But last week, local officials said they expect the price tag for public safety alone to be around $2 million.
The NFL is paying millions of dollars for the draft, but much of that money is going into the draft’s television production.
The Packers are sharing the costs to use Lambeau Field and the Titletown District.
Wisconsin governments will be left to pick-up many of the rest of the costs.
State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, said the state needs to kick-in an extra $1.25 million because the draft will be a statewide tourism event.
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