GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Saturday was a holiday of sorts for many Packers fans who have been itching to get back into Lambeau Field all season long. The activity in and around Lambeau Field was much more than we’re used to for a Green Bay Packers game in the 2020 -21 season.
As the Packers took on the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC divisional playoff game, thousands of fans made their way to the game — something that hasn’t happened in over a year.
The Packers allowed 6,500 season ticket holders purchase tickets for the game. The move came after regular season home games were played with little to no spectators in the stands because of coronavirus concerns.
“Packers are the most amazing thing in the state of Wisconsin,” Tal Janowitz said.
Saturday’s matchup was a family reunion of sorts for the fanbase, and fans like Janowitz.
“We’ve had tickets for years and to not be here this year has been devastating,” Don Lavrenz said. “We so look forward to coming to all games.”
“Usually we’d go to like one or two games, so you know it was sad we couldn’t be here,” Colleen Boltz said. “But [I’m] really excited that they were able to open this up to fans.”
The Packers say somewhere between 8,000 and 9,000 people were in attendance, 6,500 of them were ticketed; as well as team employees, visiting fans, and front line health care workers invited as guests.
“Our son didn’t sleep last night waiting for the game so it was quite an experience getting the tickets,” Tim Thorn told FOX 11.
Getting tickets to the sold out game was almost as tough as the players on the field.
“We were fortunate enough to get them and we just got six tickets it was amazing,” Dennis Kaiser explained.
After all the waiting this season, fans that talked with FOX 11 felt the organization was well prepared to welcome them back.
“There’s a lot of friendly people that are telling us to keep [masks] up,” Kaiser said. “I think they did a great job, they did the studies, they did what they needed to do to get things rolling and they did it right.”
“I feel they’ve taken every precaution needed to keep the fans back in the stands and support the Packer organization,” Janowitz added.
“There’s a lot of security going around telling you to bring up your mask and making sure we’re being safe,” Rebecca Maccaux continued.
Green Bay police officers were at the game enforcing COVID-19 rules in the event that any fan was not following them. Law enforcement reported two arrests and six ejections at the game.
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