ESPN NFL Nation’s Rob Demovsky discusses Green Bay’s unique draft experience

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the NFL lives everywhere.

The hometown Packers trace their heritage to 1919, shortly before the formal formation of the NFL. Many streets and buildings bear witness to Packers founder and coach Curly Lambeau and team dynasty builder Vince Lombardi.

But this week, Green Bay is home to the NFL draft for the first time. ESPN’s 46th consecutive year of coverage of the NFL draft unfurls Thursday night (8 ET, ESPN, ABC, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and ESPN’s social channels).

Besides reporting on the intrigue surrounding the Packers’ possible draft targets, NFL Nation writer Rob Demovsky recently wrote an ESPN.com feature about the impact of the league’s second-biggest showcase on its smallest market.

“The draft stage is literally on the street that borders Lambeau Field, which is not only the Packers’ home stadium but also their everyday facility. I talked to two people whose house is 100 yards from the draft stage,” Demovsky said. “The Green Bay school district canceled classes [this] week . . . I can’t imagine that has happened in any other draft locale.”

As Green Bay’s population (107,544) more than doubles in size temporarily, Demovsky plans to take the event in stride. He answered a few questions for Front Row.

How has the arrival of the NFL draft in Green Bay changed your job this year?
A lot of people don’t know this, but for the most part, beat reporters who cover teams don’t typically attend the draft. This is my 29th year covering the Packers [12 with ESPN], and I’ve never been to the actual draft site. We cover it from the team headquarters — in my case, Lambeau Field — because that’s where each organization’s decision-makers are. That’s where our availability to those people — e.g., the coaches, scouts, and general manager — is during the draft.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero remembers when a gas station with a Subway restaurant was the main attraction outside Lambeau Field. True?
So I worked with Tom at the Green Bay Press-Gazette in the early 2000s, and taught him most of what he knows. He’s right about the gas station/Subway on the corner of Lombardi Avenue and Ridge Road, kitty-corner from the stadium. Behind that, in what is now the Titletown District (with restaurants, hotels, office buildings, condos and even a sledding hill), the only other thing was a KMart and maybe a sports bar or two.

Have you ever attempted the Lambeau Leap?
When I hear the Lambeau Field tours go by, they always say two things: Don’t touch the grass or try the Lambeau Leap. The wall is a lot higher than you’d think; ask [ESPN Senior NFL Insider] Adam Schefter [watch below].

For more on ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft, visit ESPN Press Room