(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/30/2024) (MACKINAC ISLAND) - The National Football League (NFL) estimated Thursday that 40 percent of the business contracts awarded in connection to its draft festivities earlier this month in Detroit went to Black-owned businesses.
Thursday's announcement on Mackinac Island came as Detroit tourism officials identified the positive impact of the NFL draft on the Motor City, an event that brought out a record-breaking 775,000 attendees.
A full economic impact study, which was compiled by Visit Detroit, the Detroit Sports Commission and Dr. Patrick Rishe of Washington University in St. Louis, will likely be completed in late June.
Kai Bowman, chief operating officer of the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA), said the main priority for the alliance was ensuring that Black and minority entrepreneurs had an opportunity to participate in the draft "in a big way."
"I think we can all agree that much like our Detroit Lions, the city of Detroit absolutely nailed the NFL draft in every facet, from the record-breaking attendance numbers to the nearly flawless public safety to the amazing execution of our local small businesses," he said.
Over the course of draft-related events, MBBA members hired approximately 500 staff members to meet demand, and made around $1.2 million, the MBBA reported.
Members who were awarded contracts included 15 Black-owned concession stands, three staffing companies, three caterers, two bartenders and one food truck. Other contracts went to those working in the laundry, photography, hauling, decor and arts sectors.
In total, 60 percent of the contracts awarded went to minority-owned companies, with 34 contracts for minority-owned businesses working directly with the NFL.
Bowman said the best part of the many positive draft outcomes is that some members who received contracts during the draft will be participating in future NFL events, and potentially partnering with the Detroit Lions.
"Detroit is now the model for how to throw a great draft that's inclusive to small businesses, and more importantly, Black-owned businesses," he said.
The preliminary data also included:
- The NFL's projected local spend, excluding the NFL hotel block, was tallied at $7.33 million.
- Football fans from all 50 states and more than 20 countries attended the draft, and one fan from Australia traveled over 11,000 miles to attend in Detroit. The data was compiled by conducting more than 1,600 attendee interviews to develop an attendee model.
- To attend the draft in Detroit, 30.2 percent of all attendees traveled more than 100 miles.
- Hotel occupancy in Detroit from Wednesday through Saturday never dipped below 70 percent, with the highest occupancy reported on Thursday, April 25, at 92 percent. Despite Detroit increasing its number of hotel rooms by 1,600 from the 2006 Super Bowl, occupancy rates matched or exceeded the best four-day period around that event.
- The total TV and digital audience for the draft was 53.6 million people across the three days, with 12.1 million average viewers on night one. Viewership was higher than the NBA Finals, Masters Final Round and World Series.
- There were 5,709 media stories across all channels featuring coverage of Detroit.
