Packers, excited fans return to training camp
Not quite as big and social as in previous years, but at least this year there’s an audience
GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers training camp is back. Aaron Rodgers is back. Fans are back. And, unfortunately, coronavirus is back.
Altogether, that’s better than last year, when fans weren’t part of the equation.
Training camp in 2020 was a sad affair. With no fans in attendance, it was a preview of the rest of the year, during which paying fans were kept out of Lambeau Field for the regular season and only a handful were allowed in for the two playoff games.
Fans are back this year and some of training camp is familiar, but the shadow of COVID-19 still looms. Players and fans are kept at a distance from one another, which means no players riding kids’ bikes and no person-to-person autographs.
But to those looking at it through fresh eyes, it was still amazing. Barb and Jim Cunningham of San Diego aren’t Packers fans and were just passing through Green Bay visiting family when they saw the hullaballoo at Lambeau Field and stopped to check it out.
“Now it all makes sense, what we see on TV (about the Packers),” Barb Cunningham said. “San Diego doesn’t even have a football team anymore, and when we did, it wasn’t like this; the energy level, the accessibility. It’s a very unique opportunity.”
Carol Amadeo of Vacaville, California, brought her granddaughter Mackenzie, 12, to her first training camp and her first visit to Wisconsin. Amadeo, who lived on Ridge Road, within hailing distance of Lambeau Field until she was 12, had prepped Mackenzie with her own memories of Green Bay and Packers training camp.
“We were telling her what it was like,” Amadeo said. “It is a little less, in that we are not getting the full experience, the kids are not bringing their own little bikes out and the kids aren’t carrying the helmets and running along with the players.”
They were grateful, however, that training camp is open, still has a smalltown feel and anybody can show up.
Mackenzie, also looking with fresh eyes, loved the experience.
“It’s been amazing,” Mackenzie said. “I went to the shareholders meeting and I got Packers stuff.”
Training camp officially started, at least from the fans’ point of view, when the first players rode bicycles down the fenced-off lane from the locker room to Ray Nitschke Field. Kicking off the Packers’ season were safety Vernon Scott, long snapper Joe Fortunato and punter Ryan Winslow, all sporting big smiles as they rode between cheering fans. Granted, fans weren’t lined up four deep as was normally the case preCOVID, but they were enthusiastic.
At the end of the lane on Memorial Drive, just before the turn into Ray Nitschke Field, players passed by in twos and threes, which allowed fans to give them their undivided attention.
To get into the bleachers at the north end of the field or into the stands along the east side, fans had to affirm they had not tested positive for COVID-19 or, if not vaccinated, been exposed to it in the past 14 days. No one was seen to read the questions and then turn away.
Mike Stormer of Menasha, attending camp with his son, Matt, spoke for many others when he said COVID was never far from his thoughts.
“We are both vaccinated. It’s always on your mind, but I didn’t have any major worries at all. We don’t usually go in the seating anyway,” he said.
The south end of the field, which usually draws large numbers of standing fans, was blocked off as a COVID precaution.
The return of fans marks another critical step toward near normal for the community. Restaurants, hotels, bars and other Green Bay area businesses will benefit from the influx of fans to the area.
In the past, about 90,000 fans from 20 countries provided an economic impact of $9 million during training camp. That impact might not be as large this year because training camp will be one week shorter now that the NFL reduced the preseason to three games while increasing the regular season to 17, but it will be good for business.
Sandria Buckhalter of Milwaukee was at her first training camp and loving it.
“I’m hoping to see some of the players and some of the sights, hang out and grab some of the food,” she said.
Yvette Arce said she lives in Seattle but insists “I am NOT a Seahawks fan.” Acre, who was raised in Wisconsin, is glad to know Randall Cobb will return to the Packers, and Jay Caricabeur of Milwaukee was as glad to see Aaron Rodgers in camp.
“We need him for the whole season,”
Caricabeur said.
Arce said she is always glad to be among Packers fans.
“We actually have a pretty large fan base of Packers fans (in Seattle). The bar that’s by my house is a Packers bar, so every Sunday, every game day the Packers is playing, that bar is full of Packers fans,” she said. “I was very happy it was in my neighborhood.”
Kim and Joe Becker of Oakfield had been to training camp some years ago. They decided to come again this year because of the return of fans and the return of Rodgers.
“Being vaccinated has been liberating,” Kim Becker said. “I hope more people do it so we can control the variant that’s out there, but it’s wonderful to be back in public places and back with family, friends, out to eat, other things you otherwise take for granted.”
She said they love coming to Green Bay, even in the off-season, but especially for games.
“We’ve been to away games and there’s nothing like tailgating at Lambeau Field,” she said.
Coming to training camp is an annual event for Matt and Mike Stormer. They were surprised there weren’t more people Wednesday, but pleased the Packers kept some players riding bikes, even if the kids weren’t involved.
“I’m glad they sent some down, regardless. You still get to keep the tradition alive,” Matt Stormer said.
Like many Packers fans, they were less-than-thrilled with the off-season drama surrounding Rodgers, but overall thought the Packers made the right moves.
Mike Stormer said he struggled with the summer drama, not hearing anything directly from Rodgers, but that was resolved after Wednesday’s practice, when Rodgers was surprisingly candid in an after-practice press conference.
“I think they made the right off-season decisions for the most part. We got our man back. We’re waiting for Mr. Cobb to show. That’s solid veteran leadership,” Matt Stormer said. “I can still come out and support the No. 12 and feel good about it.”
Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 4318342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/