Travel Sketchnotes from the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin

The story of my incredible (and rainy) weekend at the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, told through travel sketchnotes and photos.

ON FRIDAY MORNING, I loaded myself and my clear vinyl backpack into a coach bus headed for Green Bay, Wisconsin. I was going to the NFL Draft for Day 2.

Last year, when I heard the draft was happening a few hours north of me, it seemed like a can’t-miss, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What a great way to combine my love for the Green Bay Packers, NFL football, and sketchnoting for a triple win!

Here are my sketchnotes, added notes, and a few photos.

Sketchnote 1: Thursday Recap & Friday Rain

I started by creating a recap of Thursday night’s round one selections, particularly Matthew Golden, the Packers’ speedy new wide receiver from Texas. His pick was significant because the Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002, and Matthew was in person at the draft in Green Bay!

Early Friday afternoon was a literal washout, with rain and drizzle falling until early afternoon. Before seeking shelter, I found a giant helmet for my Ravens fan, Alec, and took a photo for a Cleveland couple by a giant Browns helmet. You can see the Bills’ helmet in the sketchnote below.

I avoided the wet weather at Belair Cantina in the Titletown District, eating chips and salsa with a Spotted Cow farmhouse ale. I munched and chatted with a Packers fan from The Bronx and another from Minneapolis about favorite draft picks, and shared my 2023 game sketchnotes. It was fun!

Spread one of my sketchnotes from the NFL Draft: Recapping Thursday (left), a rainy early afternoon, eating chips and salsa, and making friends (right).

Sketchnote 2: Lambeau Magically Emerges and Exploring the Draft Complex

In this sketchnote, my goal was to show how cool it is to walk from a neighborhood in Green Bay and see Lambeau Field emerge almost magically. That’s when you realize how deeply Lambeau Field and the Packers are rooted in Green Bay.

I also captured my experience walking through the Draft Complex toward Lambeau Field, including giant Super Bowl ring replicas, my personal stats for the day, and a view of the Draft Stage from above.

The experience of Lambeau Field emerging from the neighborhoods in Green Bay (left), and exploring the Draft complex after the rain cleared out (right).

Sketchnote 3: Inside Lambeau, About Lambeau Field, and a Wrap-up

The final sketchnote 2-page spread captures my view from inside Lambeau Field as I watched round 2. I added notes about the history and relevant stats of Lambeau and my round 3 experience in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

I wrapped up the sketchnote with Packers 2025 draft picks, and a final reflection on the success of the draft in Green Bay, including the crazy attendance of 600,000 fans!

Watching round 2 of the draft inside Lambeau Field, round three in the Lambeau Field Atrium, and reflections on the draft weekend for Green Bay.

A Reflection on Sketchnoting Experiences

I enjoy capturing experiences with sketchnotes. It sharpens my thinking as I process photos and memories. Plus, I find myself revisiting sketchnotes from travel again and again. That’s what makes the extra work creating them worth it.

I hope that these NFL Draft sketchnotes inspire you to try capturing sketchnotes on your next adventure to cement your experiences in a unique way.

May’s Sketchnote Live Lab will happen on Saturday, May 17th at 12:00 noon US Central Time. I’ll focus on how to create travel and experience sketchnotes so you can create your own. I’ll cover my approach, useful tools, and shooting photos of travel sketchniotes, which can be surprisingly tricky! It’ll be fun afternoon!

Paid Lab Members, visit the Lab Members Resources page for Zoom information to join me for this session!

Not a paid Lab Member yet? This is a great time to subscribe so you can join me live and get a recorded replay after the session for your reference.

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Photos from the Draft

Here are a few photos from the trek to share with you:

My clear backpack, loaded and ready for Draft day.

Creating the initial B&W sketchnote while watching rounds 4-7 on Saturday. In this sketchnote series I decided to add color as the last step.

Creating the “Lambeau Emerges” sequence sketchnote. I sketched my idea in pencil, added black ink, and then finished with color.

Lambeau Field Atrium with food and heat, a welcome combo after literally chilling out on a bench in Lambeau. Brrr!

As I left for the day, Lambeau was lit up with a red glow. I missed the drone show at the end of round 3, which I heard was pretty amazing. I was cold!

Go Pack Go!

— Mike

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Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. The goal is to guide you in integrating sketchnoting into your everyday life. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab.

Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start and keep sketchnoting.

He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Army Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick.

Mike offers recorded, live, and in-person workshops to help accelerate your sketchnoting practice and coaching for personalized, 1:1 sketchnoting guidance.

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