How Vacation Rental Property Managers Can Score Big During the NFL Draft 2025

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, known for its passionate fan base and high-energy events. The NFL Draft, in particular, has become a significant spectacle, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans to its host cities. This enthusiasm is reflected in its considerable economic impact on local communities, especially in the vacation rental market. We drew data from the PriceLabs Market Dashboard on March 21, 2025, for April 24 to April 26, 2025, for a 50km radius of where the NFL Draft 2025 will occur.

The data underscores how major events like the NFL Draft affect vacation rental markets and local economies. By looking at this data, property managers can gain valuable insights that they can use to capitalize on trends and maximize their revenue.

How Will the NFL Draft 2025 Impact Vacation Rentals?

The NFL Draft 2025 is scheduled from April 24 to April 26, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During this event, many people will travel from across the country and need places to stay. The influx of travelers in the city where the NFL Draft takes place is common. Due to this increased demand for accommodation, the host city’s occupancy rate and room prices have increased.

Here is what to expect from this year’s draft. The data also includes occupancy rate and RevPAR from NFL Draft 2024 in Detroit.

Event Week Data (April 24 to April 26, 2025)

• Occupancy Rate: 20% of available rooms were rented out.
• Average Daily Rate (ADR): The average daily rate (ADR) was $1,232.
• Number of Listings: There were 1,710 properties available for rent.
• Duration of Stay: Most guests stayed for 3 days.
• Booked Nights: A total of 1,026 nights were booked.
• Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR): The total revenue earned per available room (RevPAR) was $246.

Data Comparison to Previous Week (April 17-19, 2025)

• Occupancy Increase: The number of rooms rented increased by 8% compared to the previous week.
• ADR Increase: Prices per night increased by 383% compared to the last week.
• Booked Nights Increase: There was a 67% increase in the number of nights booked.
• RevPAR Increase: The revenue per available room increased by 705%.

Comparison to Same Time Last Year (April 25-27, 2024)

• Occupancy Increase: The number of rooms rented increased by 2% compared to the same time last year.
• ADR Increase: Prices per night increased by 716% compared to last year.
• Booked Nights Increase: There was a 30% increase in the number of nights booked.
• RevPAR Increase: The revenue per available room increased by 807%.

Comparison to NFL Draft 2024 in Detroit

• ADR Increase: The price per night was 620% higher than Detroit’s final price for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Insights for Property Managers

1. Occupancy Growth: During the event period, occupancy is expected to increase by 8% compared to the previous week and by 2% compared to the same time last year.
2. Booking Trends: Booked nights are expected to increase by 67% compared to the previous week, indicating that travelers are planning for events.
3. Pricing Strategy: The ADR is expected to change by 716% during the event period compared to the same time last year, highlighting the potential for significant revenue increases and need to adjust your pricing strategy.
4. Revenue Growth: RevPAR is expected to change by 807% compared to the same time last year, driven by the 716% growth in ADR.
5. Comparison to Previous Events: A 620% increase in ADR compared to the final ADR of the NFL Draft 2024 in Detroit shows how different locations can impact pricing.

Staying on top of market trends is a priority for every property manager. PriceLabs World STR Index is a free tool that helps property managers and owners to analyze occupancy and booking trends in various markets.

How Can Property Managers Capitalize on NFL Draft 2025?

1. Use Dynamic Pricing Tools

When something as big as NFL Draft 2025 happens in your city, you should first revise your nightly rates for your vacation rental listings. You can do it manually or trust a dynamic pricing tool like PriceLabs that leverages real-time market data and demand trends. The tool automatically adjusts rental prices based on seasonal fluctuations, local events, and competitor pricing, ensuring that properties are always competitively priced. This automation lets property managers focus on strategic tasks while optimizing revenue and occupancy rates. It is an invaluable asset for maximizing earnings during major events like the NFL Draft.

2. Implement Minimum Stay Restrictions

You don’t want your property to go unbooked when you can charge higher nightly rates for your booking. Ensure your property is booked for the entire event duration by implementing minimum stay restrictions.

• Ensure Full Booking: Set minimum stay requirements to ensure your rentals are booked for the event. This helps you avoid gaps in bookings and miss out on potential revenue.
• Automate Minimum Stay Rules: PriceLabs automatically applies minimum stay restrictions. It also allows you to adjust settings for “orphan gaps,” which are short gaps between bookings that can be difficult to fill.

3. Make Your Rentals Appealing

To attract event-goers, highlight features of your rentals that are particularly appealing to them. Here are some strategies:

• Proximity to the Venue: Update your property description on various OTA platforms to highlight everything you offer that a person going to NFL Draft 20225 will prefer. One of the most important points to highlight is your proximity to the event. This is a big deal for attendees who want to be near the action without traveling far.
• Event-Themed Packages: Create special packages just for the event. For example, if it’s a sports event, you could assemble a sports-themed welcome basket with cool stuff like football-shaped cookies or team jerseys. You can also create a package with transportation to and from the event.
• Amenities for Groups: Since the NFL Draft attracts group travelers, ensure your property is equipped to handle more guests. Provide extra bedding options if you can’t increase the bedroom count. Include pull-out sofas so that more people can stay at the property, upgrade your indoor and outdoor furniture, provide extra toiletries, and stock the kitchen to accomodate more people.
• High-Quality Photos and Virtual Tours: Use high-quality photos and virtual tours to showcase your rentals. This helps potential guests visualize the space and its amenities, making it more appealing.

Read More: 7 Proven Tips to Prepare Your Vacation Rentals for Major Local Events

4. Offer Early Booking Discounts

Encourage guests to plan ahead by offering early booking discounts.

• Tiered Discounts: Offer tiered discounts based on how far in advance guests book. For example, a 20% discount for bookings made six months in advance, reducing gradually as the event approaches. This will ensure your rental is booked well in advance.
• Create a Sense of Urgency: To encourage guests to book quickly, set an expiration date for early bird discounts. This can be done by stating that the offer is only available for a limited time.
• Bundled Extras: Include additional perks with early bookings, such as a gift card to local restaurants, a welcome basket, or complimentary services like airport transfers.

5. Get Your Rentals Ready

Events don’t just increase your revenue; they also give you the opportunity to get more good reviews and increase direct bookings from repeat guests in the future. For that to happen, you must ensure your rentals are in supreme condition.

• Cleanliness is Key: Make sure your rentals are super clean and tidy. This will make a great first impression on your guests.
• Event-Themed Packages: Offer special packages related to the event. For example, if it’s a sports event, you could include sports-themed decorations or a welcome basket with snacks and drinks.
• Amenities for Guests: Provide amenities that event-goers might want, such as television, wifi, extra towels, comfortable beds, or a fully stocked kitchen.
• Local Information: Leave a guide with local information, such as maps, restaurant recommendations, or tips on getting to the event venue.
• Train Your Staff: Make sure your staff is ready to handle more guests and is equipped with knowledge of the event to handle their guests’ queries. Train them to be more friendly and quick and provide excellent service.

6. Keep an Eye on Trends

• Look at Past Data: Monitor the market to determine what works and what doesn’t regarding pricing and minimum stay restrictions.
• Competitor Analysis: Use tools like PriceLabs Market Dashboard to compare your performance with competitors. This dashboard provides insights into competitor pricing, occupancy rates, and booking trends, helping you stay competitive.
• Change Your Plans if Needed: Use what you learn to change your pricing, marketing, and how you run things to do better.

Conclusion

The NFL Draft isn’t just a major sporting event—it’s a golden opportunity for vacation rental owners to maximize bookings, boost revenue, and attract enthusiastic travelers. The data shows that host cities experience dramatic demand spikes, with occupancy, nightly rates, and overall revenue soaring during event weekends.

Property managers can turn this high-demand period into their most profitable stretch of the year by implementing strategic pricing, optimizing listings for event-goers, and enhancing the guest experience. Minor adjustments, such as leveraging dynamic pricing tools, setting smart minimum-stay requirements, or offering event-themed packages, can yield significant returns.

The key takeaway? Preparation is everything. By staying ahead of trends, understanding attendee needs, and delivering exceptional stays, vacation rental owners can capitalize on the NFL Draft’s economic impact—and set themselves up for success during future significant events.