As the NFL Draft kicks off, Windsor is getting in on the economic action

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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