Photo Credit: Kelsey Whaley

There are two things that the Green Bay Packers know how to do better than several teams in the NFL. The first is score touchdowns. With so many offensive weapons, Aaron Rodgers and the crew can keep teams guessing for a full fifteen minute (and then some) quarter. The second is that they sure know how to throw a good tailgate.

With only one preseason game remaining for the Green Bay Packers, fans are making last minute preparations to gear up for the regular season. Both Walmart and Target have stocked up on all the goodies and snacks one could want at a party. The packs of Mountain Dew are stacked a mile high at Festival foods spelling “Go Pack!” with packs of Mellow Yellow. Bags of Lays, Tostitos, and Doritos line the shelves. Packer paraphernalia is out in full force as well with complete isles of stores dedicated to foam cheeseheads, jerseys, Santa hats, and various other trinkets for adults and children alike to wear on game day.

No matter where an individual looks, they can always find an example of tailgating on a Sunday in Green Bay. Families try to get as close to the stadium as they possibly can, most preferring to be in the parking lot itself. Some fans will even arrive five to six hours early just to get a spot! If that doesn’t work, families will camp out on their lawns and just have the party out there. Literally, an individual can look just about anywhere in Green Bay and see some form of tailgating. The grills will be out, the beer will run’eth over, the smell of brats will drift through the air, and everyone will be sharing. Seriously, as long as you are not wearing a Bears, Vikings, or Lions jersey, Packer fans will always share their bounty with you.

The Green Bay fans are passionately intense about their team and may love the Packers more than they love their family members. This is why the fans are just as excited as the players to be back on the field. Besides, most of the people watching the game own the Packers, as they are the last NFL team to be owned by shareholders. They also know how to throw a party, which might be why they are rated as one of the top tailgating locations and cities in the NFL. In fact, several tailgating “experts” say that tailgating at Lambeau Field is one of the best experiences the NFL has to offer. ESPN the Magazine even named the Lambeau Field the greatest stadium experience of all four major sports leagues (NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB) in 2011, as well as greatest team experience. Food wise it may not be the greatest (they offer cheese, brats, beer, and more cheese), but the fan intensity is something that cannot really be described with words. It really is an experience that every fan should have, even those that are far away from The Frozen Tundra.

Photo Credit: Kelsey Whaley

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Written by Kelsey

Kelsey is a sophomore at St. Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin. Ever since she was born her life has pretty much consisted of sports, school, and music. She grew up in a sports family where ESPN and the Minnesota Twins ruled the television set and has been playing volleyball and softball since the day she could walk. Born and raised in Southern Minnesota, one would think that she would naturally be a Minnesota Vikings fan. However, due to a small disagreement with a friend at eight years old, Kelsey fell in love with the Indianapolis Colts. When she moved to De Pere, a small city 10 minutes from Lambeau Field, Kelsey was exposed to the craziness and excitement of Packerland. Being a baseball girl, this really was her first exposure to real football fans in the NFL. Ever since that first game, Kelsey has been intrigued and genuinely interested in the Green Bay Packers as they have become her team, second only to the Indianapolis Colts. Never one to let the boys be better than her, Kelsey has always set her goals high. At first she wanted to be the first woman to play in the major leagues. Now, she dreams of being a sportscaster on ESPN or a sports journalist in general. Kelsey also started her own blog, XxSportsblog, where she gives a female opinion on all things sports.

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