Packers take step toward allowing fans in Lambeau Field this season

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers will take a measured step toward allowing fans to attend games this season by hosting employees and families for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers said Monday they are hopeful they can host ticketed fans in coming weeks, but it won't be for the Bears game at 7:20 p.m. Sunday or the Philadelphia Eagles game scheduled for Dec. 6. Exclusive of playoffs, that leaves games against the Carolina Panthers the weekend of Dec. 19-20 and the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 27. 

"We want to ensure that we are ready to host fans if and when that time comes," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. 

The Packers said earlier this year that if fans are allowed, the number will be capped at about 12,000. Fewer fans are possible. About 500 people, employees and families, will be allowed into the stadium Sunday along with the 700 that are needed to put on a game.

Nineteen of 32 NFL teams allowed fans into their stadiums this season. More than 550,000 fans attended 65 games for an average of about 8,400 per game. With teams following strict masking and social distancing protocols, the NFL says no COVID-19 clusters were traced to game attendance.

"We’ve done the back of house stuff, we’ve done the players, we’ve done the stadium production, we’ve done the limited food service," said Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs. "Now we will introduce these other aspects we’ve planned for but haven’t had a chance to evaluate."

A number of NFL teams started with a family and friends approach before opening stadiums to ticketed fans.

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Employees and their families, and fans if they are allowed in at some point, will see the following features at games:

• Attendees will be expected to sit with members of their own households. The pods, as they are called, will be distanced throughout the stadium. Masks will be required.
• No carry-ins and no tailgating in Lambeau Field lots.
• Digital tickets will be used.
• Designated parking will be near the gates fans are directed to use. For Sunday, it will be the Kwik Trip gate on the west side and the American Family gate on the east side.
• Social distancing markers on floors everywhere, similar to those used in grocery stores.
• Sanitation stations throughout the concourses.
• A cleaning crew, identifiable by blue shirts, will maintain stadium cleanliness during the game.
• Seats will be designated with pre-affixed chair-backs, like those fans often rent. If a group is assigned four seats, they will have four chair-backs in their pod. 
• Ushers to remind people to follow protocols, including keeping masks on unless actively eating or drinking. 
• Reminders on video board as well. Also, before attending the game, fans must watch a video on safety protocols.
• Staggered exiting.

On Sunday, two concession stands on each side of the stadium, operated by Delaware North employees, will be available. There will be limited items, mostly previously prepared and prepackaged food. 

Seating will begin near the 50 yard line and work toward the end zones.

"These protocols have been successful at other NFL facilities, and we are confident in our operations and that this small group of staff and family members will follow the protocols," Murphy said. 

With COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations spiking in northeastern Wisconsin, it was an open question whether the Packers would have fans at all this year. Anna Destree, Brown County public health officer, said cases appear to be leveling off. 

Bellin Health encouraged the Packers to have people at games, in part to demonstrate how events can be safely held.

"We are confident that the precautions in place will prevent further spread of the virus and we hope this will demonstrate that while we may have to make adjustments to coexist with the virus, it is possible to make the necessary changes that will allow us to stop the spread and recover as a community," said Dr. Michael Landrum, infectious disease specialist with Bellin Health.

If the Packers decide to allow fans, it is likely that many of them will be from outside the community, raising the prospect of them bringing in or taking home the virus. Those would be factors in deciding whether to have fans, Landrum said.

They will look at the rate of spread in the community and the ability of hospitals to provide patient care at whatever levels exist at the time.

"So, a lot of different aspects we have to consider as we think about allowing more fans at games in the future," he said.

Murphy said the cost of having games during a pandemic is significant. Twelve thousand fans would be about break-even financially, but Murphy indicated they probably won't have that many immediately.

"I would anticipate we would not go straight to 12,000," he said. 

The last time fans were allowed to attend a game was Jan. 12, when Green Bay defeated Seattle to advance to the NFC championship game. Attendance was 78,998.

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