The Roaming Photographer

photo credit

https://milwaukeeinsider.com/green-bay-

packers-shuttle-milwaukee/historic-lambeau-

field-in-green-bay-wisconsin/

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https://wallpapersafari.com/w/juMGyZ

Former Names:
1. City Stadium (1957 – 1964)
2. (renamed August 3, 1965) (1)(2)

Address: 1265 Lombardi Avenue
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Owner: City of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Executive Suites: 168 (3)
Capacity: 81,441 (4)
Record attendance: 79,704 (January 11th, 2015)(5)
Broke Ground: October 11th, 1956(6)
Opened: September 29th, 1957 (9)
Renovated: 2001 – 2003, 2012 – 2015, 2023
Expanded: 1961, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1985, 1990,
1995, 2003, 2013, 2023.
Construction Cost: $960,000 million
($10.4 million in 2023(7))
2003 renovation: $295 million
2023 renovation: $489 million in 2023(7))
General Contractor: Geo. M. Hougard & Sons (8)
Tenants: Green Bay Packers

Packers seek a modern facility

Since 1925, the Packers had played at the 25,000 – seat City Stadium, located behind Green Bay East High School. However, by the 1950’s, it was considered inadequate for the times. It was built almost entirely of wood, and East High’s locker room facilities were considered inadequate even in the 1920’s; visiting teams often dressed before the game at the Hotel Northland, where the Packers’ opponents stayed at the time. The stadium could not be expanded. East High’s location any expansion to the south, and it could not be expanded to the north or east due to its location along the East River.

Officials in Milwaukee, 120 miles (190 km) to the south, where the Packers had played a part of their schedule since 1933, knew that City Stadium was less than ideal as an NFL venue. They built Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953 in hopes of luring the Packers there full-time. As originally built, County Stadium was double the size of City Stadium.

Soon after County Stadium opened, the other NFL owners threatened to force the Packers to move to Milwaukee unless they built a new stadium. In August 1955, the Packers announced plans for a new stadium in Green Bay, with a seating capacity of 32,000(19). In April 1956, Green Bay voters responded by approving (70.3%) a bond issue to finance the new stadium(20)(21). The original cost in 1957 was $960,000 (paid off in 1978), and its seating capacity was 32,500.

The new stadium was the first modern stadium built specifically for an NFL franchise. At the time, the eleven other NFL teams were playing either in facilities shared with major league baseball teams or in other pre-existing shared facilities. The site, now bordered on three sides by the village of Ashwaubenon, was selected because it had a natural slope, ideal for creating the bowl shape, along with expansive parking. The nearby outdoor practice fields (Clarke Hinkle Field and Ray Nitschke Field) and Don Hutson Center are in Ashwaubenon, as well as the Packers Hall of Fame until 2003. The land had once been farmland belonging to Jacques Vieau(22).

The new stadium, originally known as “(New) City Stadium”, was officially opened in week one of the 1957 season on September 29th,(23) as the Packers upset the rival Bears 21 – 17 in front of a capacity crowd of 32,132(24). In a ceremony at halftime, the stadium was dedicated by Vice President Richard Nixon. Also, in attendance on the platform were reigning Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur, NFL commissioner Bert Bell, and Bears’ owner George Halas,(9) on a brief leave from coaching.

Although they now had a modern facility in Green Bay, the Packers continued to play two or three regular-season games in Milwaukee at County Stadium. Starting in 1995, expansions to Lambeau Field (see below) made it financially realistic for the Packers to play their entire regular season in Green Bay for over 60 years. Former Milwaukee ticket holders receive tickets to a preseason game and games 2 and 5 of the regular season home schedule, in what is referred to as the “Gold package”. Green Bay season ticket holders receive tickets to the remaining home games as part of their “Green package”.

Expansion, 1961 – 1995

Demand for tickets at the new stadium easily outstripped supply, not coincidentally after the arrival of new coach Vince Lombardi in 1959. In 1961, four years after it opened, the stadium’s capacity was increased to 38,669(25).

Since then, the Packers have been regularly increasing the seating capacity. The bowl increased to 42,327 in 1963, to about 50,837 in 1965 with the enclosure to the south end zone,(26)(27)(28)(29) and to 56,263 in 1970, when the north end zone was closed to form a continuous oval bowl(30). In the early 1980’s, the team considered placing a dome on the stadium(31).

Construction of 72 private boxes in 1985 increased the seating capacity to 56,926, and in 1990 addition of 36 additional boxes and 1,920 theatre-style club seats brought the number to 59,543. In 1995, a $4.7 million dollar project put 90 more private boxes in the previously open north end zone, again giving the stadium the feel of a complete bowl and increasing capacity to 60,890.

Renovation, 2001 – 2003

By the end of 1999, the Packers believed that they needed to update the facility to remain financially competitive in the NFL. Rather than build a new stadium, Chairman/CEO Bob Harlan and President/COO John Jones unveiled a $295 million dollar plan to renovate Lambeau Field in January 2000. It was to be paid for partly by the team via the 1997 – 1998 stock sale, which netted more than $20 million. Most of the proceeds were to be paid through a 0.5% sales tax in Brown County and personal seat license fees on season ticket holders. After their plan won approval by the Wisconsin State Legislature, it was ratified by Brown County voters on September 12th, 2000, by a 53% - 47% margin. Construction began in early 2001. The sales tax expired on September 30, 2015(32).

The massive redevelopment plan was designed to update the facilities, add more premium and suite seating, yet preserve the seating bowl, keeping the storied natural grass playing field of the “frozen tundra”. The project was completed in time for the 2003 season, bringing the capacity to 72,515(33). Construction management was conducted by Turner Construction Sports and proved to be of remarkably little disruption to the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Although the capacity has more than doubled since Lambeau Field was opened, demand for tickets remains high. The Packers have sold out every game since 1960, and at least 147,000 names are on the waiting list(34). Between 40 and 500 names come off the list each year(35).

Because of the sell-out streak, the Packers have not had a home game blacked out since a 1983 Wild Card Playoff game against the Cardinals(36).

During the 2007 season, Lambeau Field was voted the number one NFL stadium in game-day atmosphere and fan experience by a Sports Illustrated online poll(37).

In 2009, The Sports Turf Managers Association named Lambeau Field the 2009 Field of the Year(38).

South end zone expansion, 2012 – 2013

In 2010, plans were announced by the Green Bay Packers to install new high definition scoreboards in place of their current scoreboards; plans for a new sound system were announced as well(39). Later, the plans were expanded to include adding as many as 7,500 seats both inside and outside as well viewing platforms and lounge areas. On May 5th, 2011, the Packers sent out an online survey to 30,000 season-ticket holders, club-seat holders and individuals on the season-ticket waiting list to get feedback from the fans on several concepts being considered for the south endzone development. On August 25th, 2011, plans were officially to add 7,500 new seats to the south endzone. The new seats are outdoors with the exception of one indoor row. The seats include heated areas that melt snow as it falls (a concept tested on a small scale during the winter 2010), intending to solve the logistical problem of shoveling snow from an “upper deck” seating area. The snow that falls into the original bowl area is shoveled by compensated volunteers from the community(40) using a system of temporary chutes placed in the aisles and carts to remove the snow from the stadium.

The new system was completed in time for the 2011 season. On August 25th, 2011, Packers president Mark Murphy announced that the expansion of Lambeau would not be paid for by taxpayers but the team itself. After construction was completed on the south end zone seating in the summer of 2013, Lambeau became the third-largest stadium in the NFL, with a capacity of 80,750. Additional construction included two new tower gates for the north and south end zone. Lambeau Field also installed Mitsubishi Diamond Vision Video Boards, as well as a rooftop viewing terrace in the north end zone for club seat holders during games. The rooftop viewing terrace and video boards were completed in time for the 2012 season(41)(42).

On December 12th, 2012, Lambeau Field was damaged by a minor fire when construction workers were cutting a metal beam near the fourth floor. The sparks from the cutting landed inside a wall and ignited the foam insulation. The area was temporarily evacuated and a minor back injury to one of the responding firefighters was reported. Green Bay Fire Lt. Nick Craig says the fire was small but in an unwieldy area. He says fire officials had to proceed slowly because they didn’t want to open the wall and allow the flames an oxygen supply until they had enough water on hand. The fire damage cost $5,000 in repairs.(43)

Atrium Renovation, 2013 – 2015

In 2013, the Packers announced a new $140.5 million dollar renovation project for Lambeau Atrium entrance, entirely paid by the Packers without public funding. The project began in March 2013 and was completed in June 2015.(44)

The Packers removed ground between Bob Harlan Plaza and Lombardi Avenue, which is now the basement of the atrium. The Pro Shop has been moved to the new ground level, and a set of escalators were installed on the western side, leading to the atrium and the entrance of the Miller Gate. The Packers Hall of Fame moved to the second floor of the atrium where Curly’s Pub was originally located. Curly’s moved to the main floor where the Pro Shop was previously held and was renamed 1919 Kitchen & Tap. This renovation project was referred to as “Phase II”, with the first phase considered as the 7,500 seats that were installed previously. The new setup was made to be easier for fans as it was difficult for fans in the past.

Phase II also included the following:

The Oneida Nation gate was given an expanded plaza extending into the east parking lot. A tunnel under the plaza leads to a player parking area immediately east of the player facilities. Permanent restrooms were installed under the plaza.

A new entrance called the American Family Insurance gate was added at parking lot level on the east side, with an escalator providing access to the main floor of the atrium. The Pro Shop is also accessible here.

Harlan Plaza in front of the Miller Gate facing Lombardi Avenue will remain, but its front now lines up with the North face of the atrium tower where the Pro Shop is situated. The Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi statues were repositioned and remain in the plaza.

New player facilities in the lower level of the stadium, including strength and conditioning rooms and a 35-by-50-yard practice walk-through area.

At the time of the proposed renovation, the project was expected to create approximately 1,500 jobs and pay more than $60 million in wages. Team president and CEO Mark Murphy also committed at the time that 95% of spending on the project would be done in Wisconsin and 69% in northeastern Wisconsin.(45)

A 50-foot-tall replica Lombardi Trophy was unveiled on November 14th, 2014, on the east side of the stadium.(46)

The stadium’s floodlighting system was upgraded to a new instant on-off LED system in May 2018, with the stadium’s LCD play clocks and east/west scoreboards also being converted to LED-lighted systems(47). In the last game of the 2019 preseason, the Packers added a flashing stadium light celebration for each Packers touchdown as part of the upgrade, to some traditionalist fan criticism (a foghorn addition earlier in the preseason had been criticized for its resemblance to the Vikings’ “Gjallarhorn”, and was removed for the other preseason home game); it was retained for regular season games.(48)

Lambeau Field Atrium

The Lambeau Field Atrium houses the Green Bay Packers Pro Shop, the Packers Hall of Fame, Lambeau Field Stadium Tours, and the 1919 Kitchen & Tap. It also hosts special events, such as meetings, weddings, receptions, and social gatherings.(49)

Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame is on the first level of the Atrium. The Hall of Fame is an independent, charitable association that promotes the history of the Green Bay Packers. Since 1970, 157 Packers have been inducted into the Hall, which attracts over 170,000 visitors annually.(50)

Titletown District

On August 20th, 2015, the Green Bay Packers presented the master plan for the Titletown District, an area that will be constructed on approximately 34 acres (14 ha) of land just west of Lambeau Field. Titletown will consist of three tenants including Lodge Kohler, a hotel built and managed by the Kohler Company; a Bellin Health Sports Medicine Clinic; and Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery. Development on the remaining 16 acres (6.5 ha) calls for commercial, retail, and residential elements. The Titletown District was opened in the Summer of 2017.(51)

Packers home record at Lambeau

As of the end of the 2022 season, the Packers have compiled a 253 – 126 – 6 regular – season mark at Lambeau Field. The Packers playoff record at home as of the 2022 season is 18 – 7.(52)

The Denver Broncos (0 – 5) are the only NFL team that has never won a regular – season game at Lambeau Field as of 2022. No team has an undefeated record at Lambeau Field. The last remaining team with an undefeated record, the Houston Texas, were beaten by the Packers in week 13 of the 2016 NFL season.

Copyright and Citations:

1. "Packer board backs Lambeau Field idea".

Milwaukee Journal. UPI. August 3, 1965.

p. 18–part 2.

2. Jump up to:a b c "'Lambeau Field' voted

by council" Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated

Press. August 5, 1965. p. 3–part 2.

3. "Packers.com | Suites". Green Bay Packers,

Inc. Archived from the original on

October 17, 2013. Retrieved October

17, 2013.

4. Jump up to:a b "2017 Green Bay Packers

Media Guide" (PDF).