Saturday Before the Eagles Game

We got up early on Saturday morning to concentrate our efforts on all things Packers. Since we had not done a Lambeau Field Tour in a couple of years, and only during Training Camp, we decided to take one today. Even though we were there at 8:00 a.m., there were a lot of people already in line ahead of us. 

Besides the tour arranging, the Lambeau Field Atrium is quiet (above and below) on an early Saturday morning.  

First of all, we spent some time in the Atrium learning about Packers history. Our guide was knowledgeable and the group seemed to enjoy it. Several of them were Eagles fans, surely jealous of the Packer fan experience compared to what they’ve chosen.

Then we headed up to the fifth floor to check out the suite level. Now that we look at this photo, it kind of looks like a hotel hallway up there.  

The view from inside a typical suite. Who wants to sit up there in a temperature-controlled environment with loads of food, when they can sit out on an aluminum bench? Well, it’s a lot cheaper to sit outside, if you get the opportunity (but there’s about a 1,200 year wait now for season tickets). 

Workers setting out the “card stunt” honoring our nation’s veterans for tomorrow.  

A view of the north end zone. Both our “Green” and “Gold” season tickets seats are contained in this photo. Tomorrow is a “Gold” (former Milwaukee ticket holders) game. 

We then descended into the bowels of Lambeau Field. 

It’s fun to check out the little details when on a tour. 

The Lambeau Field loading dock area from the inside. 

The Packers’ locker room is not part of the tour, but there is this panoramic image outside showing tour guests what it looks like. We have been privileged to be inside there twice — once at the first Fan Fest, and once as a post-Annual Meeting perk.

The Packers come out these doors on their way to the tunnel and the field. 

The tunnel. 

The tunnel opens and we get to step out and see the field. 

We had never been out there when the field was striped and ready for action during the season. 

If you set foot on the grass, you will be killed immediately.

FOX television analyst Troy Aikman was out there filming a segment. He greeted us and talked to us for a minute about how Lambeau is the ultimate for a football fan.

Another view of the field. At about the bottom of the “K,” Bart Starr snuck the ball in for the winning touchdown in “The Ice Bowl.”

Another view of the field. 

Looking up at the new seats from the field level. 

The opposing team’s tunnel from the locker room. The Eagles will emerge from here tomorrow. 

The grass. 

The view from above the opposing team tunnel in the south end zone, 

A daytime look at the plaza area of Lambeau which will start to change dramatically. 

Looking into the players/coaches parking lot. 

Another view of the players/coaches parking lot. 

The renovated Oneida Gate along Lambeau’s east side. 

Finishing work on the new stadium addition and the new players/coaches parking area. 

The TV broadcast area getting all set up on Saturday. 

The Lambeau Field loading dock from the outside. 

We thought that the teams flew in their gear when the team flew. 

But this truck — with the logo seen above, and with New Jersey plates — was backed up and unloading the Eagles’ equipment on Saturday morning. It seems that if it was flown in and just transported to Lambeau from the Green Bay airport, the truck wouldn’t be marked thusly.

Lunch was enjoyed at Curly’s Pub on the Atrium’s second floor. The restaurant will be moving down to the main floor soon. 

Looking out over the plaza area after lunch. 

Looking out over the plaza area after lunch. 

Later, we waited in line to get autographs from K Chester Marcol and TE Mark Chmura, the two Packers Alumni for this game. They bring in two players for each home game weekend. 

Former Packer stars of yesteryear meet the fans. 

Former Packer stars of yesteryear meet the fans.  

Late in the afternoon, the demand for stadium tours is probably more than they have time for. 

After a trip downtown to visit Bosse’s, we took a drive past Vince Lombardi’s home to hopefully bring us some luck tomorrow.

Fall in Green Bay. 

Only in Green Bay.

Lambeau Field at Night — 11/08/13

Here are some photos that we took tonight out in the crisp November air of Green Bay, Wisconsin. After a delightful dinner at Chili John’s, we headed over to Lambeau Field and took these images.  

There was some sort of function going on somewhere in the Atrium, and this local taxi was outside waiting for some riders. Check out the decorations on top.  

A shot of the Bob Harlan Plaza area, which will change greatly in the next couple of years. 

A peek into a quiet Atrium on a Friday night during football season. The joint will be jumpin’ over the next couple of days. 

The Packers Pro Shop, which we’ll visit tomorrow, will be moving as part of the next phase of construction in the Atrium. It’s been ten years — time for an overhaul.   

A shot of the Atrium and Bob Harlan Plaza area. 

Vince Lombardi stands watch over the plaza area.  

Another Pro Shop angle. We’ll be taking plenty of photos for our own “before” and “after” comparisons in the coming years.  

A view showing both Mr. Lombardi and Mr. Lambeau in the plaza area.  

A further-back view of the plaza, which will all be excavated out, down to the Lombardi Avenue street level. The new Pro Shop will be located under the Atrium floor, with ground level access. 

Banners in the plaza area.  

A view along the west side of Lambeau Field, which faces Ridge Road.  

The new South End Zone entrance tower at night.

Week 10 TV Map

As we prepare to head North again for the Green Bay-Philadelphia game on Sunday, here’s a look at who can and cannot see the Packers on their local broadcast. If you are fortunate to reside within a red area (on the map above), you will see the game as FOX’s only offering this weekend (CBS has the “Doubleheader”). If you’re in another color, it’s time to make plans for the local sports bar, or “watch” it the old-fashioned way — on the radio.

Map source: 506 Sports

Looking Towards Sunday

Here’s a few images provided from practice today. Above, QB’s Seneca Wallace (#9), and Scott Tolzien (#16) are warming up.

Injured QB Aaron Rodgers (right) talks with Tolzien and Wallace. Hopefully, his advice and knowledge will help out these fellows on Sunday. 

Returning from the injured list is LB Clay Matthews (#52) — and look at that “club” on his right hand/wrist. According to Head Coach Mike McCarthy, they’re experimenting with the right “fit” for that broken thumb.

Source: Packers.com

This Explains It

In case you haven’t seen it, this photo provides the clearest indication of why QB Aaron Rodgers sustained a broken collar bone in the first quarter of the Bears game. All of that weight and force crashing down on an awkwardly-placed elbow/forearm. And now we all wait and hold our breath for the next 3-6(?) weeks.

Monday Night Disaster at Lambeau

Nobody was prepared for what transpired at Lambeau FIeld last night, as QB Aaron Rodgers went down on the first series and did not return. The back-up plan failed and the defense was worn out. Accordingly, the Packers lost 27-20 to their long-time rivals the Chicago Bears, in a game they were unanimously favored to win — under normal circumstances. It turned into the “Battle of the Back-Ups,” and a better-prepared Josh McCown prevailed over Seneca Wallace. Rodgers’ injury is to his non-throwing collar bone (a “significant injury”), and it’s the first time a Packers’ QB has been knocked out for multiple weeks since before many of the fans in attendance last night were born. 

And speaking of attendance, the number of Bear fans at Lambeau last night was APPALLING. We endorse a 1-strike policy for taking season tickets away from “fans” who sell to opposing fans of Chicago and Minnesota, whether they sold tickets to them knowingly or not. 

Being a night game, our own photography from the stands is challenged under those conditions, and we didn’t bring the good equipment, so we don’t have photos to share. Hopefully, we will be able to take some good photos this coming Sunday when we head back up for the Philadelphia Eagles game. All in all, it was just a miserable game experience last night, and a long drive back home with a 2:45 a.m. arrival.

NFL-AFL — Merger Part II

Here is Part II of our look back at the NFL-AFL merger, as it was covered at the time in Petersen’s Pro Football 1970.

The NFL and AFL Merge

We’re going to take a look back at the 1970 season, through the publication seen above — Petersen’s Pro Football. This was, you may recall, the year that the merger of the National Football League and the American Football League took effect. This first article takes a look at the state of the sport as the now unified leagues set off as one entity.

Look Kids!

This 1960’s fundraising redemption coupon entitled a kid to obtain a real cowhide football for only $3.95(!) Plus, the stub that remained with the youth gave him some valuable football pointers from “Green Bay Packers Professional Football Player Boyd Dowler.” And, on this ticket, you could learn all about “handling low passes.” Be sure to give the Chicken Waldorf Salad recipe to Mom.

Source: Mears Online Auctions