Changes to Lambeau Field, what fans can expect
-
When you go to Lambeau Field this year, you will notice some big changes. Video by tmj4.com
video
GREEN BAY - When you go to Lambeau Field this year, you will notice some big changes. Soon, the stadium will have even more to offer. More than 400 tons of steel is going in to support 7,000 more seats.
"That's a lot. It's ten percent of the stadium," says Tim Connolly, the VP of Sales and Marketing with the Green Bay Packers.
More seats for more fans. Right now there are 92,000 Packers fans on the waiting list just to get seats.
The stadium is also adding more gates. One gate on the South end is called the Shopko gate. It will not open until 2013 but those involved in the planning say the gate is a really big deal.
"It's going to make access into the stadium a lot easier," says Paul Jones, president of Shopko.
Jones says the partnership for the new gate is great for business and the community.
"They could have gone to any one of our national competitors."
But instead, the Packers went local.
"We are creating a new neighborhood and they are your neighborhood store," explains Connolly.
"They came specifically first to a local business," says Jones.
And then, they went all out for the fans making sure all amenities were met. The new seats will have backs and arms with cup-holders. There will also be escalators that go all the way to the top floor of the isles. These new amenities are under construction now and will be available in 2013. Already new this season? Another new gate. This gate, the Bellin Health gate.
"It has evolved into much more than just a marketing relationship," explains George Kerwin, the CEO of Bellin Health.
During games, this gate will be for premium seat holders. However, the rest of the time, it will be a health center inside the gate. In the future, Bellin Health would like to offer flu shots and baseline concussion tests for athletes.
But even for the Packer fans that may not be not a fan of going to the doctor, the new changes are definitely provoking excitement.
"A lot of people want to get in and we are finally going to get the opportunity to let a few more people in," says Connolly.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.