Q&A with Allen Johnson, Green Bay Packers Fields Manager

What is something unique about your field that most NFL fans would not know?

Lambeau Field’s nickname, “The Frozen Tundra,” is actually a myth.

It is commonly reported that the heat system failed during the “Ice Bowl” causing the field to freeze, however, the heat system did not fail in a mechanical way. Instead, moisture accumulated under the tarp near the surface and it couldn’t produce enough heat to overcome that moisture freezing once it was exposed to the extreme cold.

It wasn’t frozen solid during the entire game, but did get worse as the game wore on.

How many hours do you spend a week preparing and painting the surface prior to a home game?

It takes a crew of four people approximately eight to 10 hours to paint the entire field. We do it slightly faster in the winter.

Can you provide a brief overview of your daily routine?

Each day is different depending on the time of year and how our agenda looks, which is one of the things I love about my job.

In the spring, we work hard to plant seed in the ground to begin growing the fields back into shape for the season in the fall.

Once the team is on site, practicing or playing a home game, normal maintenance practices take place according to what their schedule allows and what the weather dictates.

Many of our practices are similar, but when and how we accomplish it may change.

What is the best compliment you have received from a player or coach about the field?

I can’t recall one in particular, but our coach has routinely said positive comments about our playing surfaces in the media, so knowing that the head coach is happy is always a sigh of relief.

What is your biggest challenge in managing a natural grass football field in the NFL?

In general, I would have to say for most NFL fields the sheer amount of wear-and-tear that takes place in between the hash marks is an uphill battle. In Green Bay, the short growing season is also difficult to combat.

About Allen Johnson

Allen Johnson is in his 19th season as Fields Manager for the Green Bay Packers. As caretaker of historic Lambeau Field’s natural grass field and the team’s practice facilities, Johnson, who grew up on a dairy farm in northern Michigan, maintains a playing surface NFL players typically rank among the league’s best (No. 9 by Sports Illustrated).

This year, Johnson has served as President of the Sports Turf Managers Association, the professional organization for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide. Since 1981, the association and its 34 local chapters have been providing education, information and sharing practical knowledge in the art and science of sports field management. Its members oversee sports fields and facilities at schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadiums.