View from the box.

Thats the view from the luxury skybox suite I was lucky enough to get to watch the Packers game from on Sunday. It was quite the experience for someone who has never been to Lambeau Field. My girlfriend got invited to attend with a business contact and I got to tag along. She didn't even make me root for the Lions even though she does, being from Detroit originally. In fact she put up with a lot of crap from me as the Lions lost 26-0.

We drove up to Appleton and met the 'bus' which was an RV that had all the bedroom stuff removed and more seats and tables added. We were on the bus around 945am.. beers in hand.. headed for the tailgate party before the game. We arrived in Green Bay about 45 minutes later and had a reserved spot for the RV right across the street from Lambeau. There was a party going on at the house we parked at that was also sponsored by the company we were attending with. Steak sandwiches, brats and more beer! We hung out here for about 45 minutes and then started to make our way up to the suite.

This suite was something else. 2 fridges stocked with beer and soda.. full liquor cabinets with all the mixers and alchohol you can think of. Cold sandwiches, brats, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, nachos, cheese and crackers, veggie and fruit trays, gourmet desserts.. all laid out for just the 20 people that were in our suite. Theater like seating.. comfy padded chairs with a view out a huge window that covered the entire front wall of the suite on the 45 yard line. It was of course climate controlled so we were not out in the wind and chilly fall temps, not that Sunday was bad for Lambeau.

It was quite an experience watching the game from that suite, but what really struck me was how die hard those Packer fans are. Even though it was just the Lions.. which is pretty much a sure win for anyone at this point...they were all out in force. Close to 72K fans (capacity for Lambeau) came to watch the game and support their team. Green and Gold everywhere enjoying the pre-game tailgaiting as well as the post-game celebration. A lot of people don't know this, but if you sign up for the waiting list for Packers season tickets, you will be waiting a long long long time. This is right off their website:

How long is the waiting list for season tickets? How do I sign up?

The season ticket waiting list has more than 81,000 names. The Packers tell fans adding their names that the average wait is 30 years. To get your name on the season ticket waiting list, click here.

Most season tickets are passed on among family members.. even willed to the next generation. Say what you want about the Packers, but you would be hard pressed to find a group of fans more dedicated to their team and who treat football and the Packers as a way of life. Hell there was one guy walking bye us on the way out that had on full gear.. cleats, football pants, official jersey, the works like he was hoping enough people would get injured that they would call him in to play. Maybe he should have worn a Lions jersey instead.. they probably would have put him in.
:P