Packers say no fans until COVID-19 rates improve

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers say fans will not be allowed into Lambeau Field for the Nov. 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings, or until future notice, for that matter.

The Packers said Tuesday the level of COVID-19 cases in Brown County makes it unwise to allow people to gather, even in reduced numbers. The team said earlier this year that if fans were allowed in Lambeau Field, the number would be capped at 12,000, but did not guarantee it would be that high. Lambeau Field's capacity is more than 81,000.

The state's outbreak of COVID-19 stands as one of the worst in the nation, with northeast Wisconsin particularly hard hit. Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh-Neenah appeared on the New York Times list of metro areas with the greatest number of new cases the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Hospitals reported being near capacity.

Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said the team met with health officials last week.

"They were very strong we should not have fans," he said. 

Whether there will be fans before the end of the season depends on the level of infections. For now, the Packers are saying there won't be fans, although that could change if conditions improve.

"It's disappointing. We'd all love to have fans in the stadium. I think we'd be negligent if we had people in now with the numbers the way they are," Murphy said. "It's challenging just getting the games played. You add the dimension of having fans in the stands, that's just another issue to deal with, it's another potential problem."

RELATED:Dougherty: Packers in enviable position after resting stars and remaining unbeaten entering bye

RELATED:Robert Tonyan's three TD catches help Packers beat Falcons 30-16 to improve to 4-0

In addition to concerns about COVID-19 spreading throughout the community, the Packers are worried about how it could affect players and their families.

"Unfortunately, COVID is running rampant in our community, and our guys have got to continue to make wise decisions," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said after Monday's game. "We've got to wear a mask, and we would certainly appreciate it if everybody in this community follows suit."

In four games this year, the Packers have yet to play with fans in stadiums, including two games at Lambeau Field. About 750 friends and family of Saints players attended the Sept. 27 game in New Orleans.

The Packers' first game in front of a live audience could be Oct. 18 in Tampa. The Bucs allowed 6,383 season ticket holders to attend the Oct. 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The NFL made it through three weeks of the 16-game season before coronavirus forced one team to shut down and a change in the schedule. The Tennessee Titans were hit with an outbreak of the virus, postponing their Oct. 4 game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Also, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list. Players are put on the list if they test positive for COVID-19 or if they’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive. Newton did not disclose which of those categories he falls into.

The NFL moved the Patriots-Kansas City Chiefs game scheduled for Sunday to Monday night, resulting in the Packers-Atlanta Falcons game at Lambeau Field starting later. The Packers won 30-16 to go 4-0 on the season.

The team is on a bye week before playing in Tampa on Oct. 18.

Lambeau Field, including the Packers Pro Shop, 1919 Kitchen & Tap and the Packers Hall of Fame, remain open to the public on non-game days. Wearing of masks is mandatory, and social distancing and other restrictions are in place. 

Murphy said Green Bay was singled out on a league call as being one of the nation's worst hot spots.

"There was a graph, I think it was the infection rate for 100,000, and we were No. 1  by like three times. Nobody was even close to us," Murphy said.  

According to the state Department of Health Services, Brown County between Sept. 16-29 had a community infection rate of 1,044 cases per 100,000 population, meaning 104 people among 10,000 fans would be at risk of having COVID-19. 

"That's a pretty big risk," Murphy said. 

And one the Packers won't be taking for the foreseeable future.

Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at  @rrymanPG or  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/