Lambeau Field ready for Friday's preseason opener against AZ
GREEN BAY (WITI) -- The Green Bay Packers are preparing for Friday’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and are ready to welcome more than 7,000 new fans to the stadium, as the first official game with the New South End open.
Friday’s matchup will serve as the Packers’ Back to Football game. A special “thank you fan moment” will feature 90 fans, some of them wounded warriors, receiving a personalized Nike jersey from the team and NFL. These fans will also participate in the Ambassador Line during player introductions.
Friday’s game is the annual Bishop’s Charities Game. During pregame activities, Bishop Robert Morneau will present a trophy to Graham Harrell, the MVP from last year’s Bishop’s Charities Game. This is the 53rd year that the Packers have designated a preseason game as the Bishop’s Charities Game. To date, the series has raised more than $3.7 million for charity efforts in the Green Bay Diocese.
Don Fadell will be performing the national anthem. Fadell appeared in the recent Cenex “Tanks of Thanks” commercial, where he is portrayed traveling to sporting events singing the national anthem. The Cenex Tanks of Thanks campaign rewards people with free fuel for doing good deeds in their communities. For more information, visit tanksofthanks.com.
Ryan Sawlsville of Appleton, Wis., a recent contestant on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, will be introduced at halftime and will participate in a Q-and-A session from the field. Sawlsville began his weight loss journey in 2012 on the show and lost more than 200 pounds.
August is also National USA Football Month and to celebrate, the Packers invited more than 1,500 representatives from youth football leagues across the state to attend Friday’s game.
The Green Bay Metro gameday bus service is available again this year, with service to multiple areas of Green Bay. The four, free service routes, designed to reach Green Bay’s major key routes and fan-heavy areas during Packers home games, will run five hours before each game and three hours after. Extended hours will be provided during night games. Further details and gameday route information is available at greenbaymetro.org/en-us/packers/default.aspx.
The NFL’s new stadium safety policy, announced last month, will be implemented at Lambeau Field for all home games. It is recommended that fans allow extra time for entry into Lambeau Field. Gates open two hours prior to kickoff. As part of the new policy, no bags or purses will be allowed inside Lambeau Field unless they are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and are no larger than 12” by 6” by 12”. Small clutches that do not exceed 4.5” by 6.5” are permitted. Stadium cushions are also not allowed as a part of the new policy, however, stadium seats and stadium pads that contain no pockets or zippers and are 18” wide or smaller are allowed. For more information on the NFL’s new policy, please visit nfl.com/allclear.
Also taking place at Friday night’s preseason opener is the premier gameday tailgate party in the Tundra Tailgate Zone (TTZ) in the Lambeau Field parking lot. The fan walkway will feature autographs from Packers Alumni Bill Schroeder and Chris Jacke starting at 4:30 p.m. and interactive games for fans. More information on the Tundra Tailgate Zone can be found online at packers.com/gameday/gameday-information.html#s3.
Friday’s game will feature magnetic game schedules as the game giveaway, compliments of Cenex.
The Lambeau Field Atrium and guest relations desk will open at 12 p.m. for ticketed guests only. The Lambeau Field parking lot will open at 3 p.m. along with the Tundra Tailgate Zone. Gates will open at 5 p.m.