NFL rolls out red carpet in Detroit ahead of draft

Detroit — The NFL officially rolled out the red carpet ahead of the league's annual draft that is expected to draw thousands of football fans and at least 13 hopeful prospects from across the country downtown beginning in two days.

The league has been planning the event for over a year, working with local partners to showcase Detroit-inspired art and design, a lineup of Michigan musical performances, and local food and other vendors for fans over three days.

Organizers pushed Tuesday to put the finishing touches on the event's three central venues: the Draft Theatre next to Campus Martius, the Fox Theatre and Hart Plaza.

The draft, which runs Thursday to Saturday, has taken over the city's downtown and is expected to attract up to 400,000 people. While the focus is football, it has become a major entertainment event, said NFL director of Event Operations Steve Farago.

The main stage is located in the Draft Theatre, where 257 players will be drafted across seven rounds. It has been under construction at the Monroe Street Midway lot since March 29 and will hold over 1,500 people, Farago said during a media preview Tuesday afternoon.

Ahead of the first round, prospects will walk the red carpet at the Fox Theatre. Workers were dressing up the theater's lobby Tuesday to create an "Oscar-worthy" experience, said NFL Events Manager Justen Medina.

"This place is absolutely beautiful and I think it really highlights the music culture and history inside of Detroit," Medina said of the Fox. "We have 13 invited prospects that are coming, so all 13 will be walking the carpet and they'll head over to the theater and wait for that lucky moment."

The red carpet event begins at 5:20 p.m. and prospects will head to the Draft Theatre after to wait backstage with friends and family. Round one of the draft begins at 8 p.m. There are 32 picks, which will be broadcast live from the draft theater's stage. Thirteen prospects are expected to attend the draft in person, including USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is favored to be the first draft pick.

Farago expects fans from nearby NFL franchise cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh, as well as those all over the country, to converge in Detroit over the next few days. While 257 draftees will be affected, the event also is about creating an experience for fans, Farago said.

"Of course, Detroit offers a great backdrop and is a great host for this event," Farago said. "Detroit just has a strong passion, a strong culture in football, music, food and art, and that's really going to come to life over the three days, both in entertainment in the site as it gets built and then just through the fan experiences."

Gates will open to fans at noon Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. Saturday, Farago said. Detroit artist Angela Davis will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing," ahead of round one Thursday, and Lions performer Caleb Carroll will sing the national anthem before a military flyover.

Roughly 15 lucky inner circle guests, or die-hard fans, of all 32 NFL clubs have been invited to watch the draft from the theater, with Lions fans seated front and center.

"These folks really bring the energy to the draft, particularly Thursday, before their team gets on the clock," Farago said. "We obviously have the Detroit Lions front and center, right in front of where the commissioner is going to announce the Detroit pick where they sit at 29 right now."

Only invited guests will be seated inside the Draft Theatre, but tens of thousands are expected to line up just outside and throughout Campus Martius to watch the draft and concert series. The series features Detroit native Big Sean on Thursday at 6:15 p.m., the Detroit Youth Choir at 6 p.m. on Friday, and Canton Township native Bazzi following round seven on Saturday night. There will be a fireworks show after the second and third rounds on Friday.

"(We're) really trying to lean into that Detroit music look and feel and bringing that to life here across the three days," Farago said.

Hart Plaza will host the immersive NFL draft experience for fans, who can access food vendors and view the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl rings, Farago said. Youth clinics focusing on flag football also will take place at Corner Ballpark in Corktown on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Special designs, ranging from wall-scapes to billboards to banners hanging from street posts and a custom jersey on the Spirit of Detroit, have been created by the NFL and installed at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus and throughout the city of Detroit. Visitors and Metro Detroiters may spot a new draft-themed wrap on the People Mover and the Water Board building downtown. The designs are inspired by Detroit's art and architecture, said NFL director of Events Daphne Wood.

"As our 32 teams and all of our fans descend here, we're looking very forward to immersing everyone," Wood said. "It's such a privilege to be in Detroit and to bring the people here for the draft and to spotlight this part of the community, so for us, the art was really a center point."

The NFL partnered with Visit Detroit and the city to create the designs but did not work with any local artists, Wood said. The league's creative department takes about a year and a half to make sure designs reflect its host city, Wood said.

"There's a process that goes into it that takes about a year and a half going through the city, getting inspiration to make sure that it's reflective of Detroit, the energy of the people here," Wood said. "We went around to many different groups around the city and made sure that everybody had a perspective in the decor."

hmackay@detroitnews.com