and Renovation expansion and Renovation expansion
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and Renovation expansion and Renovation expansion
september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal Expansion and Renovation 1A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation The legacy grows Phil Weston/Weston Imaging Group LLC With the latest round of impressive renovations, iconic Lambeau Field Phil Weston/Weston Imaging Group LLC will deliver more pleasure for Green Bay Packers fans and more pain for visiting NFL teams 2A In its unprecedented 57-year NFL existence, fans and opponents alike have uttered many positive comments about iconic Lambeau Field, the historic home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. One thing you could say today that rings true is this: Lambeau may be getting older, but it just keeps getting better. On that point, among NFL stadiums, Lambeau Field stands alone. There is nothing quite like Lambeau Field for experiencing an NFL football game. And for the 2013 season and beyond, it’s going to be even more exciting. special advertising section ❘ With the current expansion and renovation of Lambeau Field’s South End Zone and Atrium — a five-year $286.5 million project launched in 2011 — the Packers will have accomplished many wonderful things. But most of all, they will have met the pressing need to deliver even more seats (about 7,000 in all) to loyal fans in the Packers’ unparalleled 100,000-plus season-ticket waiting list. There are Packers season-ticket members in all 50 states and several foreign countries, including Australia and Japan, an indication of the team’s and Lambeau Field’s broad popularity. See lambeau, page 4A street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation BUILDING LEGENDARY EXPERIENCES. 251,521 New Shareholders 625,000 Injury Free Hours Worked by Extraordinary Men & Women 184 Detailed Subcontractors 7,000 Amazing New Seats 5,700 Yards of Concrete 5,000 Tons of Steel 140 Miles of Wire 32 New Food & Beverage Centers 1 Even More Iconic Stadium Thank you to all the people who made the South End Zone expansion possible. © Green Bay Packers, Inc. september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal 3A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation Where is everyone sitting in the SEZ? Approximately 5,400 general seats in Levels 6 and 7 South Loft viewing deck on Level 9 160 Champions Club seats (premium) in Level 8 331 seats in the Miller Lite Party Deck in Level 4 lambeau, from page 2A Lambeau Makeover 2013: In a nutshell hammes company sports development The $146 million Lambeau Field Stadium Improvement project encompasses the addition of approximately 7,000 new seats in the South End Zone, two new gates, two rooftop viewing platforms (North and South End Zones), as well as two new high-definition video boards and a new sound system. The North End Zone includes the new Bellin Health Gate, with six elevators, that will enable club-seat holders to enter and exit the stadium more efficiently and provide an additional ADA entrance and exit point. In the South End Zone, new seats have been added in five levels. General seating will be featured with abundant restrooms and concessions, in addition to themed areas with some indoor concession environments. The South End Zone’s new Shopko Gate includes pairs of escalators to each level and four elevators to efficiently move fans in and out of the stadium. Both new gates will lessen the traffic at other gates throughout Lambeau Field and will improve the stadium’s overall entrance and exit patterns. ■ 4A 284 seats in the Festival Foods MVP Deck in Level 6 240 seats in the Terrace Suites in Level 5 The new seats in the South End Zone, in fact, have helped the Packers remove another 5,000 names from the vaunted list. Additionally, Brown County residents without season tickets have the chance to purchase 4,000 new bowl tickets on a gameby-game basis. Among the faithful on the waiting list, a woman waited nearly 40 years to get Packers season tickets. Now, she's finally off the waiting list thanks to the South End Zone expansion. She and her late husband put their names on the Packers season-ticket waiting list in 1974! That is just one story of many along those lines, according to Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. Murphy explained that when the team completed its last major renovation, back in 2003, the south end zone was open above the bowl. To expand Lambeau using that space, the team decided to closely study the trends emerging from new NFL stadiums coming on-line. For example, adding more categories of premium seating was one major need. But most of all, the Packers wanted to maintain Lambeau’s iconic presence while creating an even more intimidating element — a wall of fans situated in the South End Zone. “We knew that we could go up in terms of height, but the real decision to go forward was driven by the continued demand for our tickets,” Murphy said. “We had a waiting list of just under 106,000 people. It’s almost counter-intuitive, because we have, by far, the smallest city in the NFL but now have the third-largest stadium in the NFL. “The Packers are truly the state of Wisconsin’s team,” he added. “Of course, the other driving factor was improving our home-field advantage, which I believe was accomplished.” For example, before the current renovation, most of the newer seats in Lambeau Field were inside, being suites and indoor special advertising section ❘ 284 seats in the Miller Lite Lounge in Level 4 259 seats in Group Ticket Area in Level 4 clubs. Now, almost every seat in the South End Zone is outside (some have both inside and outside seats, a rarity among NFL stadiums). The South End Zone, in fact, offers Packers fans a completely different menu of viewing and seating options. “Lambeau has more of a collegiate gameday feel than normally associated with the NFL,” he said. “If you look at major colleges across the country, their stadiums are larger than most NFL stadiums.” The multiple South End Zone sections feature amenities not previously available in Lambeau Field, from viewing platforms in the general seating areas for watching the action on the field, to indoor-outdoor suite configurations and all-inclusive meal arrangements in the premium and partner areas. Murphy explained that the next two years will see work continue on the Atrium with a new east-side entry gate (2014), and a new Packers Pro Shop, Hall of Fame and restaurant (2015) — all designed to improve the Packers fan experience. “Our goal in terms of aesthetics was that we didn’t want the new design to stick out like a sore thumb,” Murphy said. “It’s such a great stadium, with so much history and tradition. We wanted to maintain that aura, but also add more modern amenities for our tremendous fans.” The Packers were successful in achieving that balance in 2003 with the prior round of renovations, Murphy added, so the goal was to build on that success. See lambeau, page 6A The new Champions Club seating area, located at the very top of the South End Zone, offers panoramic views along with all-inclusive food service. street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation VA L U E D P A R T N E R S H I P S Thank you for making Lambeau gameday even more legendary. september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal © Green Bay Packers, Inc. 5A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation Stadium Tour Guide: South End Zone hammes company sports development • T he New South End Zone (SEZ) is known as ‘The Wall’ for its steep, vertical seating arrangement, filled with loud fans. The Shopko Gate extends a long-term partnership between the Packers and the locally-based retailer. • T he South Loft is now the highest accessible point in Green Bay at elevation 306 feet (ground elevation is 149 feet). • T he top of the SEZ scoreboard reaches an elevation of 386 feet. • T he highest seat in the bowl is at an elevation of 292 feet. • T here are 271 bathroom units in the SEZ. • T here are 21 new concession areas and 11 new bars. •A pproximately 7,000 new seats were added to the SEZ. lambeau, from page 4A “We’re very pleased that it all blends together so well,” he said. “The true test will be what the fans think.” So far, so good on that front based on initial fan reactions, according to Tim Connolly, the Packers’ vice president of sales and marketing. Connolly explained that the process of determining the latest renovation elements had two prime strategies. One was to survey the landscape in terms of stadium developments everywhere, including the amenities, building design and ways to engage fans. Then, the team ranked what was important, not only nationally but what was favored by Packers fans. That was done using market research in 2010, before construction began in earnest. “It was an interesting challenge, but like every successful company, we have mission statements and values, and a primary value is one of stewardship for the Packers and Lambeau Field,” Connolly said. “We are among the oldest teams in the NFL. We certainly wanted to do the right thing for our fans and our franchise.” Most of all, Connolly said, the team wanted the renovations to make Lambeau Field even more “Lambeau-esque,” if that was at all possible. In other words, the design and amenities had to not only match but also complement the existing structure. It also had to create a new signature piece — much like the Green Monster in Boston’s Fenway Park or the ivy-covered walls in Chicago’s Wrigley Field. With the new South End Zone’s “Wall,” the team believes it has achieved both goals — an enhanced Lambeau experience with a new signature — successfully. “The new seating is designed as a very steep vertical wall, so fans are very close to the action compared to typical end-zone seating,” Connolly said. “From the early sketches and drawings and going forward we always referred to it as ‘The Wall.’ The first time people occupied the seats, the sound came cascading down onto the field. “The fans sitting on ‘The Wall’ have an opportunity to help us. Imagine an opponent on the 15-yard line in the South End looking up at a 10-story edifice with that massive video board and a wall of sound pouring down,” Connolly said. “Our fans on ‘The Wall’ can definitely make a difference.” No public dollars For the massive 2003 project, a sales tax was used to generate the public’s portion of funding for the renovations, but not for this phase. Murphy explained that 6A •M ore than 350,000 square feet were added in the new construction. •A lmost 5,000 tons of steel were used in the new construction, and more than 5,700 yards of concrete were used. The massive new Lambeau scoreboards are more than 5,200 square feet, sport nearly 5,000 lighting units and weigh in at a hefty 48,500 pounds. • T here are more than 140 new beer taps in the SEZ. •M ore than 300 new TVs were added along with four video walls. •1 40 miles of wire are used in the SEZ. • T he construction for the SEZ was able to occur through the 2011 and 2012 seasons. • T he scoreboards are more than 5,200 square feet, made up of almost 5,000 lighting units. • T he scoreboard weighs about 48,500 pounds. • T here are 3 new Packers Pro Shop merchandise stands in the SEZ. • T here are two sets of escalators going up seven floors, and four new elevators going up 10 floors, along with a freight elevator that goes up to level 7. The South Loft is now the highest accessible point in Green Bay at an elevation of 306 feet. Fans will stream into Lambeau through the new Shopko Gate (left); the 2013 expansion added another 32 concession points of sale. nationally it is much more challenging to secure public funding for stadium projects, so the Packers looked for alternatives to raise the $146 million needed for the renovations. They found it by holding their fifth stock sale, unique to the Packers’ organization, which generated $64 million, and obtaining a $61 million loan from the NFL and a $21 million contribution from the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District, the entity that with the city of Green Bay serves as the landlord of Lambeau Field. The district collects a user special advertising section ❘ fee from season-ticket members that it can allocate toward capital improvements. “We’ve had four prior stock sales, and the first three were really to save the franchise,” Murphy said. “The most recent one in 1997 was done with an eye toward the renovation we completed in 2003. That one netted about $20 million. We weren’t sure what to expect this time.” Murphy said the Packers conservatively estimated about the same amount for the proposed December 2011 offering. They street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal were stunned with the results. In the offering’s first two days, the Packers sold an astonishing 185,000 shares at $250 a share. The three-month offering raised $64 million in total, all of which went into the South End Zone renovations. “We were the defending Super Bowl champs and in the middle of a 15-1 season, so it was a great time to sell stock,” Murphy said. “But the final numbers were just overwhelming.” See lambeau, page 8A september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal 7A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation 50 + Years City Stadium was expanded with an additional 6,519 seats, increasing capacity to 38,669. 1961 1957 City Stadium opened with a capacity of 32,150. The facility was built at a cost of $960,000, an amount shared equally by the Packers Corporation and the city of Green Bay. Dedication took place Sept. 29, 1957, with Vice President Richard Nixon and NFL Commissioner Bert Bell on hand. lambeau, from page 6A Planning, designing, building With funding secured, the rest fell into place for Lambeau’s next update. As it had in the past, the Packers organization put together a team of world-class organizations, including the Hammes Company (project management), Elkus Manfredi (architecture) and Miron Construction (general contractor). In addition, the goal was to use as many local and Wisconsin-based companies (and workers) as possible. The Packers scored on that front, racking up 92 percent of the work on the project coming from within Wisconsin. Of that num- City Stadium was 1963 expanded with an additional 3,658 seats, increasing capacity to 42,327. ber, 70 percent came from the state’s northeast region and 40 percent directly from within Brown County. More than 2,000 workers contributed to the project. “Naturally, we’re very proud of the accomplishment,” Murphy said. “It was a serious economic shot in the arm for the region and it will be so on an ongoing basis. The additional fans alone in the South End Zone will be like having an extra home game, generating a $14 million impact for the Green Bay area.” To manage the entire project, the Packers returned to the Hammes Company, the well-known Madison, Wis., real estate development, investment and consulting firm. According to Bob Dunn, president, Hammes Company, his firm’s relationship 1965 City Stadium was expanded with an additional 8,525 seats, increasing capacity to 50,852. The stadium was renamed Lambeau Field after the death of E.L. “Curly” Lambeau, the Packers’ founder and first coach. with the Packers has been going strong for the past 15 years or so, dating back to the original modern era Lambeau renovations in 1999. “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with the Packers,” Dunn said. “From the very early days, they have crafted an innovative plan focused on creating a truly unique gameday experience, while securing the franchise’s future from a financial perspective. With this latest round of changes, everything that was part of the original vision for Lambeau has been accomplished. We recognized with the redevelopment of Lambeau Field back in 1999 that we needed to maintain the ability for the stadium to adapt to market changes over time. This latest phase of work allows that to Lambeau Field was expanded with an additional 5,411 seats, increasing capacity to 56,263. The expansion fully enclosed the bowl. 1970 happen.” Hammes served as owner’s representative/project manager for the Packers again over the past five years, essentially becoming an extended staff to the organization in managing every aspect of the project. “Our role is to touch it all, to quarterback the process so that everyone knows what decisions need to be made at every step and they have the information needed to make key decisions,” Dunn says. “We do that in many ways, but mainly by keeping an effective line of communication open among all the key players.” Hammes is recognized as the healthSee lambeau, page 9A Lambeau Renovation Work Fun Facts • Employees through orientation: 2,000 • Hours worked on-site: 625,000 • Inspections/site audits: 400 • Hazards identified: 1,700 •O SHA 30-hour course taught on site • Lost-time injuries: 0 • E veryone went home safely Miron Construction Co., Inc. On Friday, May 11, 2012, workers participated in a group photo within the stadium, lunch, a beam signing and a short presentation by Mark Murphy (lower left), president & CEO of the Green Bay Packers. Phil Weston/Weston Imaging Group LLC (4) • Contractors/organizations involved: 184 8A special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation of Lambeau Changes The $295 million redevelopment project resulted in entirely new premium areas, including 166 suites and more than 6,000 club seats (3,000 indoor, 3,000 outdoor). Overall, 12,032 seats were added, pushing capacity to 73,094. 2001-03 1990 1985 First suites were constructed at Lambeau Field. The 72 suites, constructed at a cost of $5 million, added 663 seats, increasing capacity to 56,926. An additional 36 suites were added on the sidelines and 1,920 club seats were constructed in the south end zone at a cost of $8.263 million. The additional 2,617 seats increased capacity to 59,543. lambeau, from page 8A 1995 The north end zone is enclosed with 90 more suites with 1,347 seats to increase capacity to 60,890. The project cost $4.7 million. “The Packers created tremendous value in the end zone, which many in football would say can’t be done.” care industry’s leading development and investment firm and is also very active in urban mixed-use and higher education markets. Sports and entertainment projects are one of the core areas of the firm’s expertise. “The primary thing that differentiates us is that coming from real estate development and investment background, we invest our own capital, so having the knowledge and experience in taking risk with our own capital tends to separate us from someone who is a pure consultant,” he said, noting that Hammes had just been chosen for a similar role in the design and building of the Minnesota Vikings new stadium. “We are deeply into that project and working on various opportunities in Los Angeles and other markets as well,” Dunn said. “We hope something will come Bob Dunn president, Hammes Company Terrace Suites are located on Level 5. together in L.A. for the NFL in the not-toodistant future.” Dunn noted that the Packers have always kept an eye on the future too, and this latest phase demonstrates a strategy that clearly has worked. Most of all, the Packers have adapted to the market, capturing opportunities along the way. “What we are now seeing is how that original plan has been able to adapt and respond to those changes,” Dunn added. “Everything in the South End Zone strengthens the Packers fan experience both on gameday and the other 355 days a year.” Dunn says it’s especially impressive that the Packers looked at every alternative imaginable when it was time to decide on Lambeau Field’s future back in the 1990s. And the easier path might have been to build from the ground up rather than take The $146 million New South End expansion added approximately 7,000 seats to increase capacity to 80,750. Included in the expansion were 5,400 general seats, 20 new Terrace Suites, the Champions Club, the Miller Lite Lounge and Party Deck, and the Festival Foods MVP Deck. 2013 on all the challenges of the NFL’s oldest stadium. The Packers figured out how to make the latter strategy work and have created one of the most unique gameday experiences in all of sports, he said. “The South End Zone expansion was intended to create an even more dynamic fan experience and Packers home-field advantage,” he said. “What is interesting to see is how the Packers created tremendous value in the end zone, which many in football would say can’t be done.” In addition, Dunn said, what’s different about Lambeau is that it uses so many of these design and fan appreciation elements for other events during the year. “This year I believe the Packers will host upwards of 800 events large and small at Lambeau,” he said. “Name one other building in sports that has created that kind of a draw 365 days a year.” See lambeau, page 10A COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE 3080 Holmgren Way Green Bay, WI 54304 (920) 336-8250 Fax (920) 336-9345 CALL RESIDENTIAL WIRING COMMERCIAL WIRING MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGNING 336-8250 Proud to be the Electrical Contractor at Lambeau Field september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ GO PACK! street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal 9A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation lambeau, from page 9A The Packers: A truly unique franchise • No single owner (last remaining publicly owned pro sports team, 5,014,545 shares, 364,114 shareholders, none of whom receive dividend on initial investment). • Team plays in major sports’ smallest TV market – 70th (New Orleans, 53, is closest). • Packers have 15 playoff appearances in last 20 years and won most NFL titles (13). • Team has averted three financial collapses: 1923, 1935 and 1950, each time gaining monetary support from community. • In a century of franchise movement, only 10 other pro sports teams — none in football — have held same moniker in same location longer (nine baseball, one hockey). • Only two other pro sports venues have been in continuous use longer than Lambeau Field (1957) – Boston’s Fenway Park (1912) and Chicago’s Wrigley Field (1916). • With season-ticket members from all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Canada, Japan and Australia, the team’s waiting list has more than 100,000 names on it. People who were recently awarded season tickets put their names on the waiting list in the mid-1970s. • Packers have most fans in league based on recent Harris polls, merchandise sales and website attraction. Plus, the team sells every available seat at Lambeau Field for Packers Family Night, an intrasquad scrimmage. • Before radio, when Packers played on the road, as many as 500 fans turned out at Legion Park to “watch” game on Playographboard (telegraph reports from press box re-created game on screen, complete with a public address system). • Packers were first to have a hall of fame and museum (1967). ■ AOSLambeauField9.625x4.125Ad_Final.indd 1 10A Designing SEZ with a twist No matter how good the plan, an expert design concept is necessary to make it work. To get that accomplished, the Packers turned to an unlikely new partner, Elkus Manfredi Architects, a leading national architectural firm in Boston. According to David Manfredi, a founding principal of the firm in 1988 (along with Howard Elkus), Elkus Manfredi came to the Packers via Bob Dunn. Manfredi and Dunn had worked together on other projects and Dunn suggested Manfredi visit Green Bay and meet with Mark Murphy. At first, Manfredi wondered if the connection could work. Much to his pleasure, those concerns did not last long. “We are not traditional stadium architects,” Manfredi said. “We do many different projects, such as mixed use and entertainment. We’ve worked with hotels and hospitality entities, including Walt Disney Co. Guest experience is a specialty.” The Packers were thinking a little differently about the South End Zone. They wanted what Manfredi called “alternative ways” to experience an NFL football game. “They wanted to make this addition not only exciting for the new seat holders, but also important for them,” Manfredi said. “With ’The Wall,’ the idea was to change the Lambeau Field dynamic by closing off the end zone. So we went to work and came away with a design they liked. It is so vertical that it really is a different way to experience a game.” Leonard Getz, Elkus Manfredi project manager at Lambeau Field, said the really unique aspect of the design is that with all the levels of ticket prices come different amenities in the very center of the South End Zone. “The variety is unparalleled,” he said. “You have sponsorship levels, including suites and outside areas. You have the Festival Foods MVP Deck on the next level. And then a few levels up, after exterior seating, you have Level 8, the Champions Club. Finally, there are some outdoor experiences on the roof in the South Loft, with an awesome view of the field as well as the surrounding area.” Getz said the architecture is consistent with what was done previously, a very strong, rugged look with lots of exposed special advertising section ❘ The Festival Foods MVP Deck, and all of Lambeau, offers food and beverage service from Delaware North Companies Sportservice. guest experience,” Manfredi said. “For us, it has been great to work with an amazing institution like the Packers. And, as a sports fan, I appreciate the history.” But, he added, when you work there and see how the organization is run, how fundamental the Packers are to northeastern Wisconsin, you realize that the Packers really are a sacred trust. “It has been a privilege and an honor working on an important place like Lambeau, one that will endure for a long time,” Manfredi said. Turning design into reality The Champions Club fare will no doubt be a Packers fan favorite. steel. In other words, nothing fancy, but a “gutsy” monumental architecture that reflects the Packers tradition. “It’s very straightforward, with red brick and exposed trusses,” he said. “It’s all about authenticity.” Manfredi is very proud that the design so successfully blended in with prior renovations, so much so that he says for some visitors, it would be hard to know where the old Lambeau ends and the newest Lambeau addition begins. “The Packers were rethinking the entire street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal With every building project large or small, design quickly morphs into work. For Lambeau Field’s North and South End Zone project, groundbreaking took place on Sept. 1, 2011, with the goal of being ready less than two years later in 2013 for “Meet your Seat” night (July 18) and “Family Night” (Aug. 3). While the Packers have played two preseason games in Lambeau already, their regular-season home opener is on Sunday, Sept. 15, hosting the Washington Redskins. The primary job of building the South End Zone belonged to Miron Construction Co., Inc., the Neenah, Wis., firm that serves as See lambeau, page 11A 8/19/13 8:22 AM september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation An electric Lambeau Field the official provider of construction services for the Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field. Miron previously worked at the stadium as one of the largest subcontractors on site during the major renovations in 2003. John Murphy, project executive for Miron at Lambeau Field, explained that the focus for the latest renovations was to follow the same game plan that had succeeded in the past. “Having worked with the Packers for a decade, we already understood how the organization operates,” Murphy said. “We had to adjust to their needs, especially on gameday or for other events at Lambeau during and after the 2011 and 2012 seasons.” Murphy said the biggest challenge, in fact, was to complete a project like this with a minimal amount of disruption. Most of all, he said, ensuring a safe site for gameday was at the top of the list. “We had to really make sure fans wouldn’t encounter any hazards coming to a game or other event,” he said. There were a few unexpected events along the way, Murphy noted. One involved creating a “mock up” of a suite on Level 5 so the Packers could make some decisions about the final layout of the space. Another challenge involved developing a type of lightweight concrete that could be pumped 150 feet into the air. “We were able to solve it and get a mix design that worked,” he said. “Working with the Packers, you could not ask for better ownership,” said Murphy, whose firm will be on hand to complete the last batch of Atrium changes slated for completion in 2015. “Their dedication to the Perhaps no individual player in the Lambeau Field renovation project exemplifies the Packers more than VDH Electric, a Green Bay firm that has worked on every major Lambeau expansion project in the past 30 years, according to Ron Lentz, VDH’s president and owner. “We’ve worked with them all along the way,” Lentz said. “Our job is coordinating any of the electrical systems and cabling, the whole nine yards.” VDH’s team of about 80 employees was on hand for the renovation this time, and it was a big job though not as large as the 2003 effort, Lentz noted. “For this one, they are upgrading all the services, including changing out coaxial to Ethernet cable,” he said. “We do the piping for every bit of cable running through the new end zone. “We go back with the Packers a long time,” he added. “Take the original skyboxes, we did those. It’s been a fantastic relationship. The Packers are very fair and great to work with, especially Ted [Eisenreich]. Even with all the front office changes, they bend over backwards to make it a partnership.” Phil Weston/Weston Imaging Group LLC lambeau, from page 10A Workers celebrated the final piece of structural steel being set for the scoreboards at a Topping Out Ceremony at Lambeau Field. fan experience is unparalleled. [Packers’ Director of Facility Operations] Ted Eisenreich is great as well. Throughout it all, their number one focus is definitely the fan.” “We wanted to hire a local firm that really understood the importance of community to the Packers,” said Mark Murphy. “And from the safety standpoint, this was a very highprofile project. We could not afford to have any safety issues or problems and Miron put that at the forefront.” Mark Murphy noted that just walking through the construction site during the project and talking to people, he could see the pride in each and every Miron employee. “One of my fondest memories was the topping off ceremony,” the Packers’ Murphy said. “We brought every Miron employee, more than 300 people, there and they all started chanting, ‘Go Pack Go!’ I get goosebumps when I think about it.” Indoor turf in new Player Facilities When the Packers decided to redo the Lambeau playing field in the height of the Wisconsin winter of 2007, Fields Incorporated of Atlanta, Ga., a professional sports field builder, did the work. And in 2009, Fields was there again to build a new pracSee lambeau, page 12A ©2013 GMR Marketing. All Rights Reserved. Photo by Patti McConville / Photographer’s Choice / Getty Images Passion is our business How do you make it personal for thousands of diverse, passionate fans? By understanding what they want and how it’s changing. For over 30 years we’ve led the way, evolving the fan experience through branded engagements that get results for our clients. Get in their hearts. Get in their minds. stay in their lives. september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal gmrmarketing.com 11A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation lambeau, from page 11A tice field at Ray Nitschke Field, where the Packers hold their training camp. Now in 2013, Fields is back and will soon be installing a new 20,000 square foot indoor synthetic turf surface in the Atrium for players to engage in training and walkthroughs. “We’ve completed five projects to date for the Packers,” said Brian Storm, President and CEO of Fields, “but this will be our first indoor facility for them. It will be a phenomenal training space for the players. “We have a fantastic relationship with the Packers, as well as with other NFL teams,” said Storm. “To do work for the NFL is the pinnacle of both the professional football and sports worlds. The Packers are a great organization to work with and we feel honored that they once again asked us to work with them on their newest project.” “The Packers are community-owned and we are a not-for-profit entity focused on improving the health and lifestyle in our service area.” Tom Arndt hammes cmo, Bellin Health Keeping warm in chilly Green Bay The new Bellin Health Gate at the North End Zone will greet fans coming to see their beloved Packers in 2013. ao smith Moving from the turf to the temperature, as in water temperature, another long-time Packers partner for the new renovation is A.O. Smith Corporation, which is headquartered in nearby Milwaukee. During the current expansion, the Packers added 21 new concession stands with one restroom per concession. The project also required 21 new water heaters, bringing the Post-renovation, Lambeau now has 132 A.O. Smith hot water heaters. 16 Memorable Lambeau Games • Sept. 29, 1957: Packers 21, Chicago Bears 17…New City Stadium is dedicated with Miss America, Vice President Richard Nixon and actor James Arness on hand…Babe Parilli hits Gary Knafelc on fourth-quarter TD pass. • Sept. 27, 1959: Packers 9, Chicago Bears 6…Vince Lombardi wins his first game; gets carried off the field after team erases 6-0 fourth-quarter deficit with Jim Taylor touchdown and Dave Hanner safety. • Dec. 31, 1961: Packers 37, N.Y. Giants 0…First NFL title game in Green Bay and Lombardi’s first of five NFL crowns…Packers total 345 yards on league’s No. 1 defense, led by Sam Huff. • Dec. 26, 1965: Packers 13, Baltimore Colts 10…In Western Conference Playoff, Green Bay wins first franchise overtime contest on Don Chandler’s 25-yard field goal…Chandler tied the game with a controversial 22-yarder 12A total number of water heaters at Lambeau to 132. According to David Chisolm, director of marketing at the A.O. Smith water heater division, construction took place year-round, stopping only on Saturdays and Sundays during the football season. “Stadiums present a unique set of application challenges, but as technology changes, solutions become easier,” Chisolm said. For example, during the original Lambeau expansion in 2002, the Packers had to install one water heater per set of restrooms and one per concession stand to prevent exposed piping from freezing in the winter. This time around, the water heaters are enclosed, which helps eliminate a lot of additional water heaters. Making sure that hot water is readily available to fans is a critical concern, of course, especially at Lambeau, where water heaters are operated the most on gameday, only 10-12 days out of the year. Each gameday, fans go through 250,000 gallons of water, both hot and cold. “Family Night” in July was the official dry run for stadium personnel and operating the water heaters at full force. No problem, Chisolm said. “A.O. Smith has been in Milwaukee since 1874, so as a long-time Wisconsin company, we were thrilled to partner with the with 1:58 left in regulation…In 1966, the NFL raised its uprights. • Jan. 2, 1966: Packers 23, Cleveland Browns 12…In snowy ‘65 NFL championship game, Taylor and Paul Hornung combine for 201 yards on the ground…Packers hold Jim Brown to 50 yards. • Dec. 31, 1967: Packers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17…In -13 temperatures (-46 wind chill), Bart Starr scores on sneak in game’s final minute, ending 12-play drive…Last NFL title game in Green Bay…“Ice Bowl” win sends Packers to AFL-NFL world championship game (Super Bowl II). special advertising section ❘ Packers organization,” Chisolm added. “This is a great partnership, truly showing the benefit that can come about when two local companies work together.” Amen to new amenities Describing all the new amenities awaiting the South End Zone fans for 2013 is a job in itself. Before getting to them, it’s a good idea to mention the new Bellin Health Gate in the North End Zone. Bellin Health, a longtime Packers partner, took a new step in sponsorship with its gate naming in 2012. Tom Arndt, chief marketing officer at Bellin Health, says his company’s role as the Packers designated healthcare partner is logical because both Green Bay-based brands are more than 90 years old. “We have similar missions,” he said. “The Packers are community-owned and we are a not-for-profit entity focused on improving the health and lifestyle in our service area. The Packers also are oriented that way.” Working together, Bellin Health and the Packers co-sponsor several events, including offering flu shots at Packers home games, sponsoring a 10K run each June (with 18,000 participants, it was among the largest in the nation this year), a 5K run to kick off Packers training camp, and the SuperBowl of Safety, a popular event held annually in February at the Lambeau Field Atrium (next year will be the 15th anniversary) that educates families about the dangers of electricity, fire and many household chemicals as well as general health issues. “We are partners with the Packers in helping foster and support a strong, vibrant, healthier Green Bay community,” Arndt said. Returning to the South End Zone, there are dazzling new elevators and escalators, See lambeau, page 13A The new Miller Lite Lounge offers a unique opportunity for 21-and-over fans to enjoy a Packers game. • Sept. 7, 1980: Packers 12, Chicago Bears 6…Chester Marcol catches his own blocked kick (by Alan Page) and runs 25 yards for game-winning touchdown six minutes into overtime… First overtime contest in Packers-Bears series, NFL’s longest rivalry. • Jan. 8, 1983: Packers 41, St. Louis Cardinals 16…Lambeau hosts first postseason game in 15 years (“Super Bowl Tournament”). • Oct. 17, 1983: Packers 48, Washington 47…Teams combine for highest-scoring game in history of Monday Night Football, and rack up 1,025 yards...Mark Moseley misses FG as time expires. • Nov. 5, 1989: Packers 14, Chicago Bears 13…Sterling Sharpe’s 14-yard fourth-quarter touchdown catch knots contest with 32 seconds left, but official flags Don Majkowski for crossing line of scrimmage…Four minutes later, instant replay official Bill Parkinson overturns call. • Sept. 20, 1992: Packers 24, Cincinnati 23…New acquisition Brett Favre comes off the bench to erase 20-7 fourth-quarter deficit, finds Kitrick street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal Taylor for 35-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left. • Dec. 31, 1994: Packers 16, Detroit 12… Fritz Shurmur’s defense holds NFL rushing leader Barry Sanders to -1 yard on 13 attempts, and the Lions as a team to -4 rushing yards, to advance in playoffs. • Jan. 12, 1997: Packers 30, Carolina 13…With -17 wind chill, Green Bay wins NFC Championship, earns first trip to Super Bowl in 29 years…The Packers rush for 201 yards. • Nov. 6, 2000: Packers 26, Minnesota 20…Antonio Freeman makes incredible catch in rain, scores on 43-yard touchdown in overtime on Monday Night Football. • Jan. 4, 2004: Packers 33, Seattle 27…Al Harris picks off Matt Hasselbeck and scores on 52-yard interception return, the first defensive touchdown in NFL sudden-death playoff history. • Jan. 12, 2008: Packers 42, Seattle 20…Packers spot Seahawks 14-0 lead then storm back to outscore visitors, 42-6, as heavy snow falls...Six TDs and 42 points both set team postseason records at the time. september 2-8, 2013 Daniel Fairs Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation Sportservice will dish out its fantastic food and drink menus again in 2013. lambeau, from page 12A a very high ratio of restrooms to concession stands, all-inclusive premium seating, suites with indoor/outdoor areas (a first for Lambeau) and special sponsored areas, including the Miller Lite End Zone and Party Deck. By the numbers, concession points of sale increased to 281 on the main and upper concourses alone, up from 186. A new concession-sales system was installed in 2012, further reducing the time fans are out of their seats, and the 2013 expansion added another 30 points of sale. The 2003 project increased the availability of women’s restrooms from 180 to 556, and men’s from 436 to 708. The recent expansion increased the numbers to 646 and 798, respectively. september 2-8, 2013 The Miller Lite Party Deck Grill has been relocated to the South End Zone. Dishing out the SEZ goodies On the food and beverage front, Delaware North Companies Sportservice came on board as the exclusive provider of food and beverage services at Lambeau Field in 2012. Now, with the new NFL season around the corner, Sportservice will continue to pair its legendary service and outstanding food and beverage offerings with the Packers’ passionate fan base. “Much like the Packers, Sportservice has a distinguished history of success. Even after just one year, the quality of food and beverage experience and service they delivered to our fans has been fantastic,” said Packers President and CEO Mark special advertising section ❘ Murphy. “It will be even better this season for our fans.” “Working with the Packers this past year has been extraordinary for Sportservice. We couldn't have asked for a better partner. We are excited about the expansion of the South End Zone and the team's continued enhancement of the Lambeau Field experience,” said John Wentzell, Sportservice president. “We feel privileged to be in close collaboration with the Packers as their vision for Lambeau Field unfolds, and equally privileged to be providing inspiring food and award-winning service to the great fans of Green Bay." Sportservice will offer the same innovative dining options in concession and premium areas in the South End Zone, much street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal as it did throughout Lambeau in year one, according to Tom Olson, Sportservice’s regional manager and vice president. “For the new season, we really are just taking what we did well in 2012 and expanding on it,” he said. “The Packers are extraordinary partners and we expect the expansion to strengthen our relationship. There are several new and exciting experiences that we are looking forward to sharing with the fans, including the all-inclusive seating area." As a result of the added space, Sportservice has been working to hire nearly 400 more staff for game days. Olson, who was born and raised in Wisconsin, is proud to be part of the Lambeau experience. He praised the Packers for both See lambeau, page 14A 13A Daniel Fairs Daniel Fairs Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation The Packers and MillerCoors have partnered since the 1940s, when Miller first sponsored the team. The Miller Lite Party Deck will host year-round events in its new South End Zone location. lambeau, from page 13A long history with the team and its loyal fans. For them, nothing defines ‘Miller Time’ better than getting together to cheer the Packers on to another title, and Miller Lite will be there to toast every great moment for years to come.” As part of the renovated South End Zone, the Miller Lite Lounge and relocated Miller Lite Party Deck are new in-stadium destinations that provide a unique opportunity for legal-drinking-age fans to enjoy a Packers game with their friends and family. (Note: You must be 21 or older to enter the Miller Lite Party Deck.) Adam Dettman, director, sports and entertainment marketing at MillerCoors, explained that the Packers are a first-class organization and that, as partners, MillerCoors has benefitted from the Packers’ understanding of MillerCoors’ goals and the partnership in driving effective retail programs to help the company connect with legal-drink- maintaining a world-class stadium and their vision to expand it. "When you think of it, it starts from the top and works its way down to the person at the front door,” Olson said. And that’s the type of partner that is perfect for Sportservice. “For the new season, as we do every season, we will challenge ourselves to bring exciting food and excellent service to the fans,” he added. “The Packers set a very high bar. We are honored to be at Lambeau Field working with such a great team serving the loyal fans in Green Bay.” MillerCoors’ long Lambeau history The Packers and MillerCoors have partnered since the 1940s, when Miller first sponsored the team. Frederick C. Miller, then the brewery’s president, even worked as a voluntary assistant on the Green Bay coaching staff in 1950. In addition, many Green Bay players worked at Miller during their off-seasons. With that as a backdrop, the Packers and MillerCoors recently renewed their sponsorship that will keep Miller Lite as the Official Beer of the Packers and Lambeau Field through the 2022 season. Over the past 70-plus years, the interwoven histories of the Green Bay Packers and MillerCoors have resulted in a partnership that’s been as rewarding for football fans and beer drinkers across Wisconsin as it has been for the two organizations themselves. “The Green Bay Packers is one of the premier sports organizations in the world, with a fan base that’s as passionate and devoted as you’ll find anywhere,” said Andy England, MillerCoors chief marketing officer. “That’s why we’re so proud to continue our ing-age fans across the state of Wisconsin. “Enhancing the fan experience on gameday and throughout the year is the filter through which the Packers put everything they do,” Dettman said. “The team understands and protects its brand identity and equity with vigor and looks for opportunities to drive equity and growth. In that way, we’re very like-minded.” Dettman said it is exciting to be part of how they are transforming an iconic football stadium, the NFL's oldest, and bringing it to the same level as some of the newer NFL stadiums, while retaining the Lambeau charm and character. “The team has struck an ideal balance between enhancing the fan experience in the concourses and new spaces while keeping the in-bowl experience focused on the game itself,” he said. See lambeau, page 15A Building Excellence at LEGENDARY LAMBEAU FIELD “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” vince lombardi At MIRON CONSTRUCTION, we believe in the magic of dreams, the strength of teams, and the power of passion and we are honored to be the Official Provider of Construction Services for the Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field. FIND THE LATEST LAMBEAU CONSTRUCTION NEWS AT miron-construction.com/category/lambeau You’ve got to dig down deep to uncover greatness. Whether it’s on a football field or the field of medicine, you can’t break new ground without digging deeper than others are willing to go. Congratulations to our Packers partner for completing another stadium expansion and reaching another milestone. 14A special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal september 2-8, 2013 Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation Lambeau Field At a Glance hammes • Dedicated: Sept. 29, 1957, Green Bay 21, Chicago Bears 17. • Location: 1265 Lombardi Ave., southwest Green Bay. • Capacity: 80,750 (present), 73,094 in 2003, 65,290 to 66,110 in 2002, 60,890 in 2001, 32,500 in 1957 (original seating). • Original name: “City Stadium” (new City Stadium). • Original cost: $960,000 (paid off in 1978). • Renamed: Rededicated as Lambeau Field Sept. 11, 1965, following death of Curly Lambeau the previous June. • Owner: City of Green Bay and Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District (operated/maintained by the team). • Field: Installed in 2007, the top level of the field system is 12 inches of root-zone sand and Kentucky bluegrass turf. DD GrassMaster synthetic fibers are stitched into the surface, providing strength and stability to the field. Fibers extend approximately seven inches below the surface, are exposed approximately one inch above the surface and are spaced every three-quarters of an inch. The SEZ: A lofty Lambeau upgrade. lambeau, from page 14A Mission accomplished The Packers’ Mark Murphy and his staff are sure to agree. “I believe we’ve accomplished what we set out to do,” Tim Connolly said. “The new ‘Wall’ at Lambeau looks like it’s been here forever. It’s a classic look without clutter. We have our players elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We have the retired jerseys of our great players and the years of our championship teams. It’s not a lot of frills, just green and gold and football.” Curly Lambeau: A Packers legend. Approximately 20 million individual stitches make up the process. • Heating system: Installed in 2007 and contains more than 30 miles of radiant heating pipe, which can maintain a root-zone temperature of 55-plus degrees to keep the ground from freezing during the season’s latter months. First system was put in by Vince Lombardi for 1967 season (failed during Ice Bowl). • NFL Championship Games: Three (1961, 1965 and 1967). • Packers’ all-time record, Lambeau Field: Regular Season: 194-108-4 (.641), Postseason: 14-4-0 (.778), Overall: 208-112-4 (.649). “The South End Zone project was a top priority for us. After all, even with our waiting list, we have to compete with the experience of fans at home watching the game on their high-definition television sets and surround sound. Our goal is to make sure the in-stadium experience is great as well,” Murphy concluded. “Today, fans expect modern amenities. The challenge was how can you add them without detracting from what makes Lambeau Field special? I think with good planning and design, community/fan support, great work by our Packers staff and a tremendous team of partners, we’ve met that challenge.” ■ The new SEZ features two sets of escalators climbing 7 stories in all. september 2-8, 2013 special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal 15A Lambeau Field Expansion and Renovation it just keeps getting better. And Bigger. And Louder. Delaware North Sportservice is excited to serve more fans in more ways than ever before. The south end zone is sure to become an iconic vista in the NFL. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on their forward-thinking approach to the fan experience. We are proud to be your food and beverage partner at Lambeau Field. 16A special advertising section ❘ street & smith’s sportsbusiness journal september 2-8, 2013