Aw, just substitute: if it was a big Disney meet up instead, with all the different team uniforms as love for a different Disney character.
Yet, they are all unified by their love of the same subject.
What they showed in Detroit was just the stage area where all the announcements were made. There was probably a big area off to the sides where all the other fun stuff was going on, like a festival. Here in NY/NJ a big section of the football field was sectioned off for kids to actually throw or kick footballs for prizes. They can now say they actually threw a football on the official Jets/Giants football field when they watch a game.
Fans get to chat endlessly about football with each other.
Especially about the draft picks. One of my friend's was off a ways, chatting with someone we all didn't know. Then she looked at us, excitedly, motioning for us to follow her. But, confused, we didn't. And they quickly went off. She finally wanders back with Giants memorabilia with Eli Manning's autograph for her husband!
(Eli Manning was the Giants QB with 2 superbowl wins.) The other woman knew someone who could get them in to get autographs before the long line formed.
Other kids were wandering around with autographed footballs. Some had fresh footballs with just a couple autographs. While others proudly had their footballs almost full of signatures, as they must go to these live events often to meet their real-life football heroes.
There was free food and beer and some wine. Others were chowing down on the overly-expensive stadium food. (So the stadium makes money in the off season.) Reminders to fans of past games and good times to come. Lots of free giveaways of NFL team branded merchandise. Every once in a while a worker would toss a case free Giants/Jets branded T-shirts into the crowd. (NFL branded merchandise isn't cheap.) I got a Jets T-shirt and gave it to my doorman as I know he's a HUGE Jets fan.
Everyone goes through metal detectors to get in. And there are security guards everywhere to quickly break up any drunken squabbles. So it stays a safe, family-friendly event. A good time was had by all.