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Health & Fitness

A View From the Stands: NFL Kickoff Celebration in Green Bay

The NFL threw a big party last week in Green Bay and I was lucky enough to be there.

The NFL threw a big party last week to kickoff the season putting Green Bay in the national spotlight and providing a Super Bowl like atmosphere for Packer fans to celebrate. The huge production was costly but in the end the NFL got its money's worth. I was lucky enough to be there.

Even though it was a weekday, crowds formed early to tailgate, people watch, check out the Game Day Village, and enjoy a free concert. They even gave the kids half the day off from school. I've never seen so much media in and around the stadium even at past championship games.  We got plenty of exercise to burn off the carbs by walking around to take in the sights.

The Game Day Village was set up the East side of the stadium across from the Don Hutson practice building and adjacent to the concert stage which was set up right in the middle of Oneida Street. Fans could only enter and exit from Holmgren Way so it was a fair walk from the stadium. It was primarily run by corporate sponsors. You could get free pizza, soda and opportunities to get Packer alumni player autographs. I missed getting Bart Starr's autograph but managed to get Antonio Freeman's.

Scattered all around the stadium were large video screens. At 3:30 p.m. they showed the NFL Network's latest installment of its Super Bowl series, America's Game: 2010 Green Bay Packers. It is an awesome production. 

About 4:30 p.m. the concert started. The way the stage was set up you could watch the concert from the front side or from the back side in the East Lambeau parking lot. Many folks just watched on the big video screens.

We went into the game early to avoid any congestion as did many others. The lead-in to the game was electric with the fireworks, military fly over and the unveiling of the 2010 championship year in the ring of honor.

This was one of the loudest games I've been to, and as you already know, the action was fantastic. We didn't have a perfect game, but it was a great win.

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