Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Christmas Day game presents challenges
Green Bay – It won’t come as a surprise to football fans in Green Bay on Christmas Day to watch the Packers play the Cleveland Browns that there will be inconveniences.
Christmas Day games are challenging to host cities because — well, because it’s Christmas — but this year you can add to the mix two years of COVID-19 pandemic, which is responsible for worker shortages everywhere and especially in every hospitality-related sector.
“It’s a tough one because a lot of the employees have worked short-staffed for so long and businesses want to give them time with their families over the holidays,” said Brad Toll, president and CEO of tourism bureau Discover Green Bay. “We also have tens of thousands of guests in our city who are excited about being there for the game.”
On the whole, fans should be able to find most of the things they need this weekend, but they might not find all the things they want or be able to go to their usual haunts.
Gas stations and convenience stores likely will be open at many locations, although filling the tank on Christmas Eve wouldn’t be the worst idea. Many Kwik Trip stores, which also include hot food as well as prepackaged items, may mostly be open on Christmas Day.
“Don’t leave Lambeau field hungry because your options will be somewhat limited,” Toll said of after-game dining opportunities.
So, prepare for the the inconveniences, give workers a break if things aren’t going as smoothly as you’d want, and keep an eye out for a Santa Claus or two, or a dozen, at the game.
Here are some of the things to consider.
Weather
As late-December games go, Saturday is expected to be pretty good for watching football. The forecast is for rain and snow showers on Christmas
Eve, which means driving conditions could be marginal, but Christmas Day is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 33 and a low of 19. Not exactly Ice Bowl conditions.
Game day parking
Parking should be adequate. An informal survey of parking Nov. 28 found that nearly all Lambeau Field neighbors plan on parking cars Saturday.
Most will be open because “that’s what we do” and “we’re still making up for last year,” when there were no fans and no cars to park. People who park cars around the stadium generally use the money to pay property taxes or go on vacation, and so it’s missed when it’s not available.
Game day services
The Packers and concessionaire Delaware North have sought additional employees and volunteers all season. Like other employers, they are finding it hard to fill all their open positions. As a result, fans should be prepared for slower-than-expected service, not only at Lambeau Field but at other hospitality businesses.