GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It wouldn’t be an annual Packers Family Night event without a bout of bad weather.
After an hour long delay, fans were allowed back inside Lambeau Field Saturday night to enjoy the popular practice.
Approximately 78,000 fans were in attendance.
The Packers weren’t the only ones getting the chance to show off their talents. The Racine Youth Sports League got to scrimmage inside the stadium.
The leagues coach, Jared Matkes told FOX 11, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to play on, not only just a national football league field, but a lot of these kids are Wisconsin, Green Bay Packers fans, so I mean to play on Lambeau Field’s turf is pretty cool for them.”
But many fans don’t have to be on the field to feel the same excitement.
“It’s great to see a Packers game,” Cameron Schlesselman said. “This is my first time to watch a practice at Lambeau or even a game, so I’m really excited.”
“It’s still awesome even if they aren’t playing a game against another team,” Beau Kuhl said.
Kuhl and Schlesselman made signs for Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, hoping to catch the player’s eyes.
For other Packers admirers posters weren’t the only thing to do on Family Night.
“We got ice cream, we spun the wheel and got a card,” Jalyn Benzow said. “We got little hamburger puppets and we also went to this little cart in the towel cart over there.”
Family Night included many activities throughout the afternoon. Fans could get airbrush tattoos and get up close with animals from a wildlife sanctuary.
Features and activities also include on-field football drills, Pick ‘N Save Family Night Picnic, Chili’s Jerseys-Off-Our-Backs promotion and Fan walkway area.
Tom Hinca’s family spent their day trying to dunk men in cow suits in a tank.
He explained the event goes beyond just the players and activities though.
“People would want to come together to really, not watch the game, but to have that aura of the game I guess here,” Hinca said. “The Packers are here and it’s hard to believe that they’re even from this area.”
Hinca believes the event is also about sharing the game-day experience for those who never had the chance to go to an actual game.
