Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
EXTRA POINT Stadium ruling will be costly to Packers
Green Bay — Multiple reports say the NFL will require teams to tarp over the first six to eight rows in stadiums this season to provide more separation between players and fans.
That would knock out 6,082 seats in Lambeau Field, assuming all eight rows were blocked, according to calculations by Event USA, a game ticket/game package provider in Ashwaubenon. That would equal nearly 8% of average attendance in 2019. The cost to the Green Bay Packers would be around $900,000 a game, or $7.2 million a year, not including preseason games. That also does not include ancillary income, such as from parking, concessions and Pro Shop sales.
The Packers have said they will survive a year of a coronavirus-affected season because they can dip into their reserve fund of about $380 million.
The NFL did not announce the decision on rows publicly and the Packers aren't known for getting ahead of the league in such discussions, so the team had little to say about it. All along, the team has said it's preparing for a normal season, with increased protocols and safety measures for all players, personnel and attendees. Adjustments would be made as necessary. This would be the first of those adjustments.
Other teams are floating the possibility of reduced attendance at games. At this point, the NFL is leaving it to each franchise to determine how many fans will be allowed in stadiums, recognizing that local conditions may vary widely.
Based on reporting, the NFL said teams should keep the first six to eight rows of their stadiums unoccupied to provide an extra layer of protection from the spread of coronavirus. To mitigate revenue loss — some stadiums have premium seating in those rows — teams will be allowed to have advertising on tarps and in some other previously prohibited parts of the stadium.
The Packers did not disclose how such a move would affect season-ticket holders — Lambeau Field routinely is sold out — but they have maintained they would refund ticket payments to fans if games were canceled. It seems likely they would refund money for fans who have tickets in those rows if no other accommodations are available.
Teams are sticking with the NFL approach that enhanced safety protocols will allow games to be played in front of at least some fans, and refunds will be made to those whose seats are not available or if games are not played.
The New England Patriots told atrisk season-ticket holders they can optout this year without putting their tickets in jeopardy, and the New York Giants floated that option to all seasonticket holders. The Chicago Bears sent a letter to ticket holders that said they are considering a similar option.
Expect more announcements on how teams will handle fans in the stands this year as training camps open at the end of July.
Hall, Pro Shop reopen
In related pandemic news, the Packers
Hall of Fame museum reopened Monday, two weeks after the reopening of the Packers Pro Shop. Lambeau Field operations were closed in mid-March.
Visitors to Lambeau Field are required to wear masks and social distancing is encouraged.
Also, the playgrounds, football field and game courts are open in the Titletown District. Communal equipment, such as for the ping pong tables or bocce courts, will not be provided, so visitors must bring their own.
Stadium tours remain closed, as do 1919 Kitchen & Tap in Lambeau and 46 Below cafe and The Turn restaurant in the Titletown District.
Shareholders meeting virtual
The Packers' annual shareholders meeting this year will be virtual only, as has been the case with many corporate events in a COVID-19 world.
The team announced it would forgo the annual public gathering at Lambeau Field in favor of a streamed event. The
Packers have streamed annual meetings for several years, so the process isn't new.
Attendance at the meetings traditionally was between 7,000 and 12,000 most years, but last year it drew only 4,200 shareholders and guests.
The meeting will be streamed live at 11 a.m. July 23. Information about the meeting was included in the mailing to the teams 360,000 shareholders, but also can be found at packers.com/community/shareholders or packersowner.com.
The Packers have some experience with conducting a virtual meeting. The July 25, 2018, meeting at Lambeau Field was chased indoors by thunderstorms. Packers executives and board members conducted the meeting from the media auditorium while fans watched online and on televisions throughout Lambeau Field.
Two members will leave the team's board of directors this year. Terry Fulwiler, who joined the board in 2004, and Michael McClone, a member since 1998, reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
New members nominated for the board include Jan Allman, CEO, Marinette Marine Corp., a Fincantieri company; Wilson Jones, president/CEO, Oshkosh Corp.; Mark Kasper, owner/ CEO, Amerhart Ltd.; John Schmidt, president/CEO, U.S. Venture Inc.; and Bobbi Webster, public relations director, Oneida Nation.
Webster would be the first Oneida member elected to the Packers board.
If all are elected, that will bring board membership to 46.
Shareholders who have not received communications from the organization in the last 12 months can contact Shareholder Services to update their address, including street and email addresses. Shareholder Services can be reached by phone at (855) 846-7225 or by email at shareholderservices@packers.com.
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/