October 1, 2024 - Algoma (Door Peninsula and Green Bay) - Tuesday

October 1, 2024 - Tuesday 

Algoma (Door Peninsula) Wisconsin 

We arrived at Algoma, Wisconsin, on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula. We are scheduled to take the included excursion today with a drive across the Door Peninsula to Green Bay. Home of the iconic Green Bay Packers. And Lambeau Field is the focus of the trip. We really don’t know what to expect, but it is something to do. Neither one of us are big football fans. 

Our local guide that will be our escort on the bus before turning us over to docent guides at the stadium begins to tell us about the countryside we are driving through and a lot of basic information about the Packers and the stadium. A long time ago, the Packers were in financial trouble. Someone recommended that they change their business model. Get rid of the “owner” and turn it into a non-profit organization funded by shareholders. The original shares sold for $5. The shares do not increase in value, cannot be traded or sold. The purchase is a way to raise money. It worked. The sale of shares has been repeated a few times, but for the most part, it has been a very successful tactic. They are the only franchise in the NFL that operates this way.

Freshly cut corn fields. This is feed corn for livestock.

Our escort is one of those shareholders. He also is a beer seller at the stadium when the Packers are at Home. About 8 or 9 times a year. 

We arrive at the stadium and are handed off to docent guides. There is a main guide that does most of the talking, using one of the Viking headsets. We start off on the 6^th floor for a comfort stop and view of the field. Then go up to the upper level to get great views of the stadium. Down to one of the suites, then down to the locker room level. They sort of teased us intimating we would see the locker room. We got to see a wall sized photo of the room. The locker rooms are open to the players and support staff 24/7. So are unavailable on tours like ours.

Lambeau Field from the 6th level

Green Bay in the distance

The upper seats

A neighborhood adjacent to the stadium

It is claimed to be the largest G in the world. 40' x 60'

Exiting to the field from the Packers' tunnel.

From field level looking up at the bleachers

I wish I could regurgitate all the data they gave us on the stadium, its construction, the grass and all. It was fascinating. The stadium itself is impressive. It sits 81,000 fans. The population of the city of Green Bay is 107,000.

This is not a domed stadium. It is open to the elements. Every seat in the house is a season ticket. There are very few “seats”, The bulk of the seating is on aluminum benches. There is a waiting list to get season tickets that is over 100,000 people. Your spot in line can be passed to the next generation and on as well as the tickets themselves. 

The grass on the field is natural and is cut every two days. The field is painted before every home game. The field does not freeze, it is heated. 

After the tour, we could tour their Hall of Fame, and/or check out the gift shop. We wandered around in the gift shop for a few minutes, not interested in buying anything, but marveling at the sheer number and variety of items. You name it, it’s there with a great big green and gold “G” on it at ridiculous prices.

This is just inside the front door of the shop.

Everyone needs one of these. The price tag is only $5,000.

In the lobby - a 50' tall replica of the Vince Lombardi trophy.

The tender operation at the dock in Algoma.

Time to head back to the ship about an hour away. As we left Green Bay, the bus took a different route than the way we came in this morning. Eventually, we were back on the same road, but it allowed us to see a little more of the countryside. I think we were a little late getting back. Shortly after returning to the ship, we were underway. Our next stop is Alpena, Michigan.