If you’ve left it to the last minute to find a place to stay for the NFL draft in Detroit, there’s still a glimmer of hope. A handful of hotels within a short walk of the event, happening from April 25-27, have rooms up for grabs. However, be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience.
Detroit’s hotel scene is bustling, with nearly 6,000 rooms mostly spoken for, as reported by Visit Detroit, the city’s tourism office. The most sought-after hotels are already showing no vacancies online.
Chris Moyer of Visit Detroit advises acting swiftly if you’re aiming for a downtown stay during the draft. Although downtown hotels are nearly at capacity, there’s always a chance of cancellations, so checking for last-minute openings or getting on a waitlist could pay off.
Last year’s draft in Kansas City drew a crowd of 312,000. Expectations are high that Detroit will see an even larger influx of fans.
The 2024 draft will spread across several key spots in downtown Detroit, including Campus Martius, Hart Plaza, Cadillac Square, and the Monroe Street Midway, making it a city-wide celebration.
A recent search by the Detroit Free Press revealed some available hotels within walking distance of the draft festivities. While this search wasn’t exhaustive and availability is likely to change, there are also options in other parts of Detroit and the suburbs.
One such option is the Hotel David Whitney, Autograph Collection, previously known as the Aloft Hotel. They’re offering rooms starting at an average of $659 per night, with two-bedroom suites going for up to $1,059.
The Element Detroit at the Metropolitan has just one room left, requiring a three-night stay with an average nightly rate of $529. Other Marriott properties in downtown, like The Westin Book Cadillac and MGM Grand Detroit, are fully booked.
The Siren Hotel is nearly at capacity for the draft weekend, with a mix of group bookings and standard reservations filling up fast. Although their website shows no availability, calling the hotel directly might secure you a spot.
For a more unique stay, The Cochrane House in Brush Park, just north of downtown, has a room available for $1,100 for two nights, with a two-night minimum stay required.
Other downtown hotels, such as the Detroit Foundation Hotel, have been booked solid since September due to private events. However, Trumbull & Porter in Corktown still has several rooms available, with prices ranging from $646 to $1,405 per night for a suite.
The Saint Regis Hotel in New Center also has a few rooms open for the draft, priced at $379 a night. For those looking for alternative accommodations, short-term rentals through Airbnb and Vrbo show some availability in downtown and surrounding areas.
Beyond the city, the suburbs of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties offer over 45,000 hotel rooms, with many still available.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider camping. Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources suggests several parks with availability in April. Reservations can be made online, with rustic sites around $20 a night and modern sites between $30-$40.
For more information, feel free to reach out to Adrienne Roberts at amroberts@freepress.com.