Packers' Lambeau Field now third largest stadium in NFL

With today's dedication of roughly 7,000 new seats in the south end zone of Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers now boast the third largest stadium in the National Football League, with seating for approximately 81,000 fans. When Lambeau Field opened in 1957, it was then known as City Stadium and had a seating capacity of 32,500 (the name was changed in 1965, when it was renamed in memory of Packers founder, player, and long-time head coach, Curly Lambeau, who died earlier in that year).

This latest expansion is the ninth since the stadium opened. It is now the largest stadium in Wisconsin, surpassing Camp Randall Stadium at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The height of the new viewing terrace, roughly 300 feet up in the stadium, makes it the highest point in Brown County, according to reports. One might well expect that there will be some differences in how the wind is experienced within the stadium, not to mention the sound of 81,000 Packer fans cheering the Pack on to another victory!

Today, the fans who were lucky enough get their seats in this new area and have their names removed from the waiting list, had a chance to meet their seats in person. Many took the opportunity to do so following the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Here's a video from WKOW-TV, Madison, about today's dedication...Go Pack Go!!!

A Packer Fan's Story - Part Deux - The Tebow Hex

While the recently drafted rookie class of the Green Bay Packers gathers this weekend to be wowed, dazzled and overwhelmed by all that is the Green 'n' Gold, we thought we'd share an update with you to the story of Steve, our longtime friend and regular reader of Packer Fans United. He said it was OK to publish this latest adventure. So, without further ado...A Packer Fan's Story - Part Deux, from Washington, D.C.

The Biking Jogging Incident
By Steve

In my first book, Theophilus, I dealt with how the wearing of a Packers t-shirt in Metro Washington, D.C. inspired the kind outreach in a biking mishap by a fellow Packer fan, also born in Wauwatosa, WI (see original post here). In this my second book, I ask, "Did the wearing of a New York Jets Tim Tebow shirt bring bad luck and hinder assistance during a Metro DC running incident?"

Having already slept in the Tebow t-shirt, I rolled out of bed, changed from my Clareware pajama bottoms to running shorts, donned my freshly washed Catholic Charities disaster relief baseball hat, laced up the Sauconys, and prepared my wrists with my runners watch and "in case of emergency, call..." band. (Editor's note: any brands out there reading this...send the product placement mention royalties to me, please, not Steve. That is all...)

On this muggy Saturday morning, but a few hours from a spring thunderstorm, I began to sweat profusely as I ran around a campus block. Somewhat early on a Saturday morning, there were few university students to offer up a thumbs up or thumbs down to my New York Jets Tim Tebow t-shirt. As I ran around the block that constitutes the CUA Dufour Sports Center, I spotted an opening to the gate of the athletic track and chose the modern running track over the cracked sidewalk and streets -- much easier on the knees.

About 30 minutes later, attempting to exit the outdoor track through the same gate, I noticed that the gate was now locked shut. Hmm, adorned by my New York Jets Tim Tebow t-sirt, I ran around the premises to determine whether any other gates were unlocked. No luck; furthermore, the sports center building was locked. Basically, Theophilus, I was locked inside the outdoor athletic facility at The Catholic University of America. Would I be fed to the lions in this 21st century Coliseum?

Like all modern campuses, this one also has emergency phones ALL OVER THE PLACE. So, I approached the standard and called Security. I explained that I was a resident of one of the halls, had entered the track through an unlocked gate, but was now locked inside. The dispatcher assured me that she would send someone over to escort me through the building and off the premises.

A few minutes later, I waved down a robust security officer. He asked what I was doing on the grounds. I explained that the track gate was unlocked but was now locked. He looked at my New York Jets Tim Tebow t-shirt and asked, "Do you have a (University) ID?" I answered, "Yes, in my room...".

When he asked for any ID, I did wave my wrist at him, with the emergency band info to call in times of trouble! After looking at my shirt and asking me a few more times how I got inside the track and if I had an ID, he finally unlocked the sports center, and led me through the building. As I mentioned, it was rather humid, and my Sauconys did pick up some moisture and mud during the morning run, so I did almost wipe out on the stairs in the athletic center as he escorted me out the building. Great, I thought, first this guy wonders what the stranger with the New York Jets Tim Tebow t-shirt is doing running on our locked track; then, he breaks an ankle on our stairway while being escorted off the property.

He asked if I were OK, and I replied, "No worries, sir; I always use hand rails on stairs."

Moral of the story: "Packer gear: Don't leave home without it.

Thanks again, Steve, for sharing this most recent sport attire incident with us. But really: Tebow? Jets? Had to be a freebie...no way you would have paid for that! And obviously, it sure didn't garner you any major assistance points either, did it?

Which leads me to the Editor's moral of the story: it's great to be a Packers fan! Just be sure to wear your gear! (In fact, you can get some great Packer Fans United gear here.)! Get the respect you deserve! Don't be forced to wear some funky Jets-Tebow stuff. It's just not worth it, man. C'mon...order today!!!

Go Pack Go!!!

A Packer Fan's Story

While we briefly contemplate the recent street free agent signings by the Green Bay Packers (as that's about all the offseason action there is to contemplate for the Pack, other than the well-known departures ) and get our juices flowing thinking about the upcoming draft about nine days from now...this is a great occasion to look at another side of the Packers. In this case, the fans, and how good -- and handy! -- it is to be a Packer fan.

This story was sent to me by a longtime friend and regular reader of Packer Fans United. He said it was OK to publish it. So, without further ado...Steve's story, from Washington, D.C.

The Biking Incident
By Steve

I was bike riding this (Sunday) a.m., wearing a Packers long sleeve t-shirt, when I began to experience difficulties after about 20 miles. Just outside Reagan Airport, I jumped off my bike, popped the rear wheel, and fiddled for more than a few minutes before deciding to walk to the Reagan Metro stop (needed repairs were beyond my ability and tools) and take the subway into town in order to stop at my favorite bike shop before church.

After having deboarded at the Russlyn Metro stop, I carried the rear wheel while walking the bike to the repair shop. A very kind man stopped me. He asked me if I needed help. At this point, having already shaken off two others before I realized that I was over my head, I said "Sure." Of course, he noticed the Packers shirt. He asked if I were from Wisconsin and I said yes. Turns out, he grew up in Wauwatosa (Milwaukee suburb) but served in the Foreign Service for many years. I mentioned that I lived in Wauwatosa for my first nine years, and even dropped the name of our street and St. Pius Church. It just so happens that he was from Christ the King parish. Anyway, he whipped out his tools from his saddlebag (he, too, was bike riding), made some adjustments with the chain, brake cable, and brake shoes, and we proclaimed it fit to go!

Moral of the story: people from Wisconsin are so decent and even though RGIII jerseys were the hottest NFL jersey last year, nothing can beat a Packers t-shirt!

Thanks, Steve, for sharing this with us. No doubt, many Packer fans can recall circumstances where wearing a Packers t-shirt or cap or whatever was a surefire conversation starter and immediate bond of kinship.

Which leads me to the Editor's moral of the story: it's great to be a Packers fan! Say it with me: We are Packer Fans United!

Go Pack Go!!!

This is what Packer fans will do

If you are a Packer fan -- and I'm assuming are (or wish you were) -- you already know that you are part of the best fans in all of sports. We are a hardcore lot. Especially when it comes to getting or keeping tickets...unlike, as I mentioned in my earlier Favre post of the day, ViQueens fans who can't even sell out a playoff game for cripes sake. And, of course, who also now have to plumb the depths of discarded and twice-retired Green Bay players in an effort to boost their ticket sales.

But enough about the fickle fans in the funky purple. Back to some real fans...

On 620WTMJ radio's Sports Central with Bill Michaels tonight, he was doing a segment on the impact the economy is having on sports franchises and fans. He invited listeners to call in to say how things are affecting them. The first caller said that his family, beginning with his father, had 124 season Packers tickets. One hundred twenty-four! He told Michaels that he owned a couple rental apartment buildings and he sold one just so he could still afford to keep all those tickets. The second caller said he had 24 season tickets and owned two businesses. Said the one business needed the tickets as part of entertaining clients. The other business didn't. Said he actually closed down the second business so he could put all the resources into maintaining the full set of tickets.

As Michaels said after listening to these two callers, when he had the chance to move to Milwaukee's WTMJ from his previous gig in Cincinnati he jumped on it because he knew how hardcore the Packers fans were.

Indeed.

It's good to be a Packer fan!

Harlan re-tells the story of Favre acqusition

One of the jewels of information which came out during the time between it became known that Brett would retire and his actual press conference was the story by recently-retired Packers' CEO Bob Harlan of how the Pack came to trade for him. Then-GM Ron Wolf had just started with the Packers and the Atlanta Falcons had just come to Lambeau to play. Wolf wanted to watch their back up QB, a first-year player by the name of Brett Favre out of Southern Mississippi. Wolf, while at his prior job with the NY Jets, had rated Favre as the best QB in the draft, and was set to take him. The Falcons nabbed him one slot before the Jets picked. Good thing, as it turned out, for both Wolf and the Packers. The Falcons got a first round pick in 1992...whoever that turned out to be. The Packers got Brett.

But for the rest of the enchanting story, go here. Worth the read.

Be your state or country's ultimate Packers fan
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is looking "to find one fan to represent every state in the country, and every country in the world." The first fan from each state or country to e-mail them at packersworld@jsonline.com with the information they're looking for AND a photo will get a spot on their map. Who's the ultimate Packers fan? We all are. We are Packer Fans United! But if you'd still like your individual distinction and place in cyberspace, go here for more details.

Packer fans go the distance...literally

It's well known around the country that Packer fans travel to follow the team wherever they may go. At several stadiums this season, the number of visiting Packer fans in the stands gave the home team fans a run for their money.

But some fans' ideas of travelling to follow the team take on different dimensions. How about actually moving to Green Bay to be near all things Pack? That's exactly what some fans have done over the years. This season is no exception. Although one of the fans this season came from a bit farther away than usual: Australia. You may have already heard his story before. But if not, and if you also want to read the stories of some of these other Packer fans that moved to Green Bay, you can read the article here.