Lambeau Field
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Lambeau Field is the home stadium of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Originally opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced Green Bay's original City Stadium as the Packers' home field. In 1955, the other owners in the league had threatened to force a move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin if the stadium conditions in Green Bay were not improved. In 1956, Green Bay voters responded by approving (70.3%) a bond issue to finance the new stadium. The original cost in 1957 was $960,000 (paid off in 1978) and its seating capacity was 32,500. The new City Stadium was renamed "Lambeau Field" by the city in 1965, following the death of Packers founder E.L. (Curly) Lambeau (and over the mild objections of Vince Lombardi). Besides founding the team in 1919, Lambeau played for the Packers and was the team's coach through the 1949 NFL season, leading the Packers to six NFL championships. Also in 1965, the seating capacity of the renamed stadium was increased to 50,852. The bowl was fully enclosed in the 1970 NFL season, increasing capacity to 56,263.
Although they now had a modern facility, the Packers continued their tradition (1934-1994) of playing two or three regular-season games a year at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, 120 miles to the south. Beginning in 1995, regular season games were no longer scheduled in Milwaukee and Lambeau Field became their only home field.
[edit] Renovation
A massive $295 million reconstruction was begun in 2001 to update the facilities and add more premium and suite seating, while preserving the seating bowl and keeping the storied natural grass playing field of the "frozen tundra." This nickname was spawned by the 1967 NFL Championship Game between the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. The game was played in temperatures of -13°F with sharp winds, and has come to be known as the "Ice Bowl." The name supposedly came from a highlight film of the game that included in its narration the phrase, "the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field," spoken by "the voice of God," the late John Facenda. However, Steven Sabol of NFL Films has denied that Facenda used the phrase; it is believed that an imitation of Facenda by ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman popularized the phrase. An underground electric heating system had been installed the previous summer, but when it was needed the most, it failed to operate properly. The field had been covered overnight with the heater on, but when the cover was removed in the sub-zero cold, the moisture atop the grass flash-froze. (The underground heating & drainage system was redone in 1997.)
The renovation project was completed in 2003, and current capacity is 72,601. Lambeau Field is the longest continuously-occupied stadium in the NFL, completing its 49th year in 2005 NFL season. Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois has been the site of a football stadium longer, but was not the home of the Chicago Bears until 1971 NFL season. In 2007, Lambeau Field's 50th anniversary, Packers will begin their 51st season at the stadium, breaking the 50-year occupancy record held by the Bears at Wrigley Field (1921-1970).
[edit] Postseason
Lambeau Field has represented a significant postseason home-field advantage for the Packers. From its opening in 1957 until January 2003, the Packers had never lost a postseason game at Lambeau Field. However, the Packers hosted just one postseason game (in the ad-hoc round-of-16 in the strike-shortened 1982 season) during a lean stretch of 27 years between the Ice Bowl of 1967 and a wild-card game in December 1994. Although the Packers have lost two of their last three playoff games at Lambeau Field, the overall postseason record is an impressive 12-2.
The impressive record is attributable to both the dominance of the early Packers teams under Lombardi and the physical and psychological challenge that the cold Wisconsin winters present for visiting teams. The most famous example is the Ice Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967 for the NFC Championship. Still the coldest game in NFL history, at kickoff the temperature was -13 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of -46 degrees and it got even colder as the game went on. Despite the conditions, the game sold out and actual attendance was high.[1] More recently in the NFL playoffs, 1997 both the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers struggled to adapt to the cold, muddy conditions.
[edit] Traditions
Whenever the Packers score a touchdown, the Todd Rundgren hit "Bang the Drum all Day" is played. Many Packer players jump into the end zone stands in a celebration affectionately known as the "Lambeau Leap." The Lambeau Leap was invented on December 26, 1993 by former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler. During a game between the Packers and the Los Angeles Raiders, Raiders quarterback Vince Evans completed a pass to wide receiver Randy Jordan, who took the ball to the Raiders 40 yard-line. There, Butler forced Jordan to fumble the football, which was recovered by Reggie White at the Raiders 35.
White ran 10 yards and then lateraled to Butler, who ran the remaining 25 yards to the end zone for a Packers touchdown. Overcome by the moment and the outstanding play, Butler jumped into the bleachers (and into the arms of 6 or 7 lucky Packers fans), thus coining the term "Lambeau Leap." (The Packers would go on to win 28-0.)
Today, the Lambeau Leap is a popular touchdown celebration done by many players on many teams. Though it is always known as a Lambeau Leap when a Green Bay Packer does it, the term is also sometimes used when another player on another team does it.
[edit] Other events
Since the renovation, the stadium has been used for other purposes, including snowmobile racing. (The 2005 snowmobile racing event took place over the turf, but even with proper snow cover, it ruined the playing field. In 2004, the event was held in the parking lot due to a lack of snow.)
[edit] Hockey
On February 11, 2006, collegiate hockey teams from Wisconsin and Ohio State met in the "Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic", an outdoor game played on a temporary rink inside the stadium. The Badgers defeated the Buckeyes 4-2 before a capacity crowd of 40,890. There were some problems as the ice began to crack during play, but overall it was a success, ending with the Badgers doing the "Lambeau Leap" following their victory. (The Badgers went on to win the 2006 NCAA hockey championship.)
Shortly after the game, newspaper reports said the Wisconsin football team might be interested in moving a non-conference road game to Lambeau Field, but the Packers said they would probably not host such a game because of concerns over damage to the playing field.
[edit] Seating capacity
As New City Stadium
1957 32,500
1961 38,669
1963 42,327
Renamed "Lambeau Field"
1965 50,852
1970 56,263
1985 56,926
1990 59,543
1995 60,890
2002 65,290
2003 72,601
[edit] External links
- Lambeau Field from Packers.com
- Lambeau Field timeline from PackersNews.com
- Packers yearly results
- Packers game results
- Lambeau Cam from Packers.com
- Aerial Views of Lambeau Field, StadiumFind.com
- Don't bet on UW football at Lambeau, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Feb. 15, 2006
[edit] Picture Gallery
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