Making the Lambeau Leap

I, along with my father and four friends from our weekly tailgate, was lucky enough to make the trip up out to Lambeau Field for the NFC Divisional game to see if Eli and the boys slay the dragon that was the 15-1 Green Bay Packers. The trek would be my first to Titletown, USA as well as my first time attending a Giants road playoff game. I had heard the stories about how welcoming Green Bay fans could be towards visitors and how unwelcoming Lambeau Field could be towards a visiting team. Much like the Giants, we were ready for anything thrown at us.

The first thing you notice about Lambeau Field upon arrival is the Lambeau Field Atrium, home to some of the amenities that put the stadium on par with any in the league. The state-of-the-art facility serves as the headquarters for any fans visiting the stadium and features the Packers Hall of Fame, Curly’s Pub (named after Packers founder Earl “Curly” Lambeau), the Packers Pro Shop and the banquet area. The atrium also houses the front office and the coaching staff offices. The home of the Packers is open 363 days a year, shutting down only on Christmas Day and Easter.  

While MetLife Stadium is not situated in an ideal location for something similar, the Lambeau Atrium goes to show some of the things missing from the new home of the Giants. At the very least there is no reason why the Timex center can’t serve as home to a hall of fame museum type place for the storied franchise. Makes you wonder how they dropped the ball on that one. 

The Lambeau Field tour (highly recommended) begins on the bottom floor of the atrium. The informative trip takes you throughout the stadium, finishing with a walk out onto the field through the players tunnel. It really is quite an unforgettable moment for any football fan. No, they don’t let you do the Lambeau Leap.  

You certainly feel something different when you’re inside the walls of football’s most historic stadium, especially on the eve of a game of this magnitude. You can’t help but think of all the greats, both players and teams, who called this place home.    

There is a reason that you always hear that Packers fans are known as the most polite, knowledgeable and gracious fans in the league. It’s because they are. The thousands of Giants fans (seemed like it could have been as many as 10,000 to me) who made the trip were welcomed all weekend. More importantly it seemed that Giants fans were cordial visitors as well. By the time we left on Sunday, it became commonplace to be welcomed to Green Bay or for a Packers fan to ask if I was enjoying myself. Just great stuff.  

While I won’t get into my thoughts on the game (go here for that) I will say a few things. One, we were very fortunate with the weather. I can recall at least 5 Giants games in my lifetime that have been much, much, colder. Saturday night was much colder than Sunday and a few layers did the trick for game time. Second, my seats gave me an excellent view at the Giants’ first-half ending hail mary play. We sat 24 rows up in the end zone, just to the right of Nicks’ right shoulder, essentially right on the line of the pass from Manning to Nicks. Watching that ball make it’s way towards Nicks’ outstretched arms was an indescribable experience and something that I won’t forget anytime soon.

With the game in hand and most Packers fans headed for the exits we were greeted with numerous congratulatory handshakes and kind words as our Giants were headed for the NFC Championship game. While I wasn’t expecting them to be sore losers, I also did not expect so many kind words. You can’t help but be taken aback at first. My previous Giants road trips include Philadelphia (x5) and New England earlier this season so this type of behavior was certainly a first for me.  

It’s tough to describe difference between the Packers fans and other fans across all sports, but if I had to try, I’d say it is rooted in the pride that they take in their team. They are made to feel as though they are a part of the team rather then just fans of it. They embrace their role in the franchise, no matter how small it may be. Everyone from the top of the front office down to the last fan are Packers. The organization does an unbelievable job of allowing the fans to be a part of it all, even if it is through something as small as this. The Packers aren’t just a football team but they are the heart of Green Bay.  

The trip was an unforgettable one and a must (I recommend going in the winter for the full experience) for any football fan, whether your favorite team is playing or not. It didn't hurt that the Giants came away with the W either.

GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

#ALLIN.