Packers Experience will be precursor to possible draft
GREEN BAY – The four-day Packers Experience has more than just entertaining fans riding on its combination of live music, re-created locker room and football-related activities.
Besides being a kickoff for the Packers' 100 Seasons celebration, it is an opportunity for Green Bay to show the National Football League that it can deliver the level of activity and excitement needed to host an NFL draft.
"It will be a precursor of what the draft could be like here," said Gabrielle Valdez Dow, Packers vice president of marketing and fan engagement.
The Packers have told the NFL they would like to host the draft in 2021 or after.
The NFL, which is planning its own 100th anniversary celebration, has looked closely at the Packers Experience plans and will have high-level representatives on hand for the event, which is, in fact, the NFL Experience rebranded.
But impressing the NFL is a secondary goal of the free Packers Experience, which begins Thursday, the first day of training camp and the morning after the Packers' annual shareholders meeting.
"I think it's just a great way to give back to the fans," Dow said. "It's free and it's a great family event."
Four days of interactive activities
First things first: You're going to need a pass to participate in Packers Experience activities. Visitors must register for Packers Pass at packers.com/fans/packers-pass.
The four-day festival includes a range of interactive activities, live music, food, beverages, interactions with Packers alumni and more. It is part of 16 months of the Packers celebrating their 100th year of football, which culminates with the team's 100th anniversary on Aug. 11, 2019.
Packers Experience opens at 9 a.m. Thursday, 21⁄2 hours before the first practice of training camp.
"If I only had a couple hours to spare, I would stop in the Legacy Dream Theater to watch the sneak peek of the Packers (100 years) documentary, then I'd stop at the Packers locker room," Dow said.
The recreated and smaller version of the locker room will be near the Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau statues facing Lombardi Avenue. It includes 18 lockers, a recorded Mike McCarthy pep talk and video screens showing scenes from the actual locker room.
Another highlight, Dow said, is the Look Like A Player display of Packers uniforms through the years on headless mannequins. Fan can pose behind the mannequins to make it look like they are wearing the uniforms.
Elsewhere, visitors can run a 40yard dash, kick a field goal or extra point, return punts, throw or catch passes, watch TV broadcasts or just chill in a beer garden.
The Lambeau Field Atrium and concourses will be open to allow fans to get out of the heat.
TV shows from Lambeau
ESPN's "NFL Live" will air at 12:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The program will include Green Bay native and SportsCenter host John Anderson and former Packers Desmond Howard and Matt Hasselbeck. Adam Schefter and other EPSN reporters also will participate.
NFL Network's "Inside Training Camp Live" will air at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Among those appearing on the NFL Network program are former Packers coach Steve Mariucci and former Packers receiver James Jones, along with Andrew Siciliano, Ian Rapoport and Stacey Dales.
Interviews of Packers alumni might be conducted during the programs. Fans are welcome to visit the broadcast sets near the fan walkway on Lambeau Field’s east side, adjacent to the Johnsonville Tailgate Village.
Packers alumni interviews
Each day from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Packers alumni will participate in interviews conducted by Packers Radio Network play-by-play announcer Wayne Larrivee. Fans are invited to watch the interviews on the main stage. They also will be played on LED screens stationed around the event space.
Scheduled to appear are:
❚ Dave Robinson and Jerry Kramer on Thursday
❚ Frank Winters, Earl Dotson, Chris Jacke and Mark Chmura on Friday
❚ LeRoy Butler and Antonio Freeman on Saturday
❚ Paul Coffman and Lynn Dickey on Sunday
The EAA connection
The Packers are working with the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh to arrange flyovers on Wednesday for the annual shareholders meeting and on Thursday for the Packers Experience.
The shareholders flyover will be by DC-3 passenger planes. The Packers were the first NFL team to use air transportation, flying on DC-3s.
The composition of the Thursday flyover is a work in progress.
"An overwhelming number of pilots, even those who aren't Packers fans, wanted to fly over Lambeau Field," Dow said.
Lamers Bus Lines will provide a $25 round-trip shuttle service between Lambeau and EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, which runs through Sunday.
Parking changes
Packers Experience activities will take up parking lots along the north side of Lambeau Field.
Paved parking on the southwest and southeast side of the stadium will be available, as will unpaved lots west of the stadium.
Parking is free.
In Titletown District
Packers Experience will spill over into the Titletown District west of the stadium, where USA Football coaches will conduct youth football camps.
Live music is scheduled in the district from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Other Titletown actives will be available as well, including youth playgrounds and free games for kids and adults.
Titletown Night Market, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday will include food vendors, free yoga with Lodge Kohler and entertainment.