APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The Appleton International Airport has longed for this day, and it finally arrived on Thursday as the new concourse expansion reached completion, one week before the NFL Draft begins in Green Bay.
From April 23 through April 27, there are 272 inbound and outbound flights, the most in northeast Wisconsin during Draft week. Officials held an open house for it on Thursday.
Longtime member of Blue Man Group and Oshkosh North alum honored in ceremony
Fortunately, those new gates are ready to handle it, Appleton Airport Director Abe Weber said about the project which was contributed to by many groups.
“This portion of the concourse is going to into operation on Monday, April 21, and be up and running for the Draft,” Weber said. “This is a really big project and it took contributions from a lot of people, from federal to state to local. There were a lot of supporters.”
The $66-million expansion project is multiple phases and was also designed with added sustainability in mind, which the airport is notorious for. The entire project adds about 47,000 square feet to the airport, which will more than double its facility.
‘Busiest week in 20 years’: Airports make final preparations for tens of thousands of draft visitors
The airport is a massive economic impact in the community as well, with Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson saying back in March that the facility generates roughly $700 million in annual economic activity.
More expansion details are available on the Appleton International Airport website.
