NFL Sets Record With 275K+ Fans in Attendance for 1st-Round of 2024 Draft in Detroit

Football fans flocked to see the NFL draft in Detroit on Thursday night, setting a new attendance record.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, over 275,000 fans showed up and broke the Day 1 attendance record. The previous record was held by the 2018 draft, in which over 200,000 people were present on the first night in Nashville.

The Day 1 attendance nearly surpassed the total attendance of the entire 2023 draft, as roughly 312,000 fans were present in Kansas City (via Front Office Sports).

Fans continued to show up in Detroit prior to the draft until NFL officials ended general admission entry due to capacity restrictions, per WXYZ Detroit. Officials initially expected that there would be 300,000 to 400,000 in attendance throughout the entire weekend, although that amount was almost reached on the first night.

The Chicago Bears began by selecting former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Teams were interested in adding offensive talent, as pass-rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player off the board at No. 15.

The Lions picked former Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the No. 24 pick after trading up, eliciting cheers from the vast crowd.

Following Detroit's impressive 2023 season that culminated with the team's first playoff victory in 32 years, fans have shown up in droves to witness the 2024 draft.