As the NFL Draft kicks off, Windsor is getting in on the economic action
The NFL Draft will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday in downtown Detroit
The NFL Draft is one of the biggest events to come to Detroit — and it turns out Windsor, Ont., is seeing some of the benefits of being right next door.
Windsor is seeing a surge in hotel bookings, downtown restaurants and bars are gearing up for a busy weekend, and the city is getting in on the action with free events.
With its location just across the Detroit River, Windsor is closer to downtown Detroit where the draft is taking place than many of the city's own suburbs.
"We have seven hotels in downtown Windsor, which account for approximately 1,800 hotel rooms. For Thursday night four of the seven are sold out," said said Gordon Orr, the CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, in a statement.
For those hotels that aren't yet sold out, occupancy rates are at 90 per cent of higher, he added.
Chris MacLeod, chair of the Downtown Windsor BIA, says it's a chance for Windsor to be part of the big events going on in Detroit.
"This is really a celebration of what's going on in Detroit," he said. "So both the economic impact ... on our restaurants and or bars on our hotels and then, it's another opportunity for us to bring local residents downtown and have them have a great experience."
Windsor restaurants and bars are poised to take advantage of the extra traffic: At the Bull and Barrel, they expect to be about as busy as they were for the Super Bowl.
"We are looking forward to this weekend, hoping for definitely an increase in traffic," said owner Andrew Corbett.
"I think tomorrow (Thursday) night will probably be the big one with the the first round of the draft in Detroit. We're already filling up for reservations here at the Bull and Barrel ... but I think all weekend is going to be very steady."
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The NFL Draft festivities are coming after the Detroit Lions made a run for the Super Bowl this year, ultimately losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
"Well, obviously with how good the Lions did this past year and all the other events coming to Detroit, it's been a really good year for sporting events so far," Corbett said. "We're looking forward to that this weekend as well."
Dan Hogan has been helping the city organize a Saturday full of events on the lawn of Windsor city hall, including coaching clinics, drills and games for kids. There will also be a draft viewing area.
They encourage everyone to come check out the fun, with plenty of names in local football and a downtown decorated for the occasion.
"Basically we want to try to get all the local talent back in the area that have played in the NFL," he said. "It's basically our football community coming together to celebrate the NFL draft.
"What we're trying to do is communicate throughout the city that the game of football just doesn't teach you to be in the NFL ... It helps you get on in life."
Hogan coached Theo Johnson during his high school career at Holy Names Catholic High School. Johnson will be a participant in the draft, and is projected to be a third-round pick.
Later Saturday, Ouellette Avenue will be closed for a street party from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The events in downtown Windsor, as well as the Detroit NFL Draft itself, are free to attend.
You don't have to be a die-hard football fan to enjoy the party, MacLeod says: Almost 1,000 people have already registered to attend.
The economic impact can be hard to quantify, MacLeod said, but a real measure is people's impression and experience in downtown Windsor.
"We're behind it because we know that the more we can do to change the dialogue around our downtown, the more people are going to come and come back to our downtown," he said.
To help move all these people around the city, the City of Windsor will be running extra special event tunnel buses to Detroit beginning at 9 a.m. Residents should make sure to make a reservation online.
For Windsorites heading across the border for the draft, there will be road closures and some parking restrictions in place.
With files from Dale Molnar