Packers plan training camp, Family Night and Lambeau Field preseason game without fans
Richard RymanGREEN BAY – Fans will not be allowed to attend training camp this year or the lone preseason game scheduled for Lambeau Field.
Also, there will be no fans at Family Night, but the annual practice will be televised statewide. The date and time were not announced.
"After consulting with local health officials and reviewing league and CDC guidelines, we felt we needed to make this difficult decision," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. "We will continue to work on the protocols and logistics in the hope that we can welcome fans back to Lambeau Field for the regular season without jeopardizing the health of our players, team personnel and fans."
By operating without fans until the first regular-season game, teams have more time to test player protocols and prepare for the arrival of fans when the season starts.
The Packers previously said that games will be played in front of fewer fans, if stadiums are allowed to open to the public, but did not say how many ultimately will be allowed into Lambeau Field, which has a capacity of about 80,000. Social distancing and the wearing of masks, as well as other precautions, will be required for attending games.
Season ticket holders this year can opt out of buying tickets this year. Those who opt out will retain rights to their seats next season. Those who opt in have the chance to get tickets for games. The Packers will be contacting season tickets holders for their decisions when details are finalized.
RELATED:Majority of Packers fans say they won't go to games, but rest say they're ready for football
The decision to hold training camp without fans will be another blow to Green Bay's economy. Packers training camp attracts about 90,000 visitors from across the nation and 20 countries, and has an estimated economic impact of more than $9 million, according to a 2010 study by consulting firm AECOM.
"I wasn't terribly surprised," said Brad Toll, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The Minnesota Vikings announced it a couple days ago for their training camp."
The Packers hold training camp at the team's practice facilities near Lambeau Field: at Ray Nitschke Field, Don Hutson Center and Clarke Hinkle Field, although Hinkle Field was not expected to be used this season because its turf was recently replaced.
Toll said he's hopeful fans will be allowed to attend regular season games.
"We know that will be fewer than normal, but we appreciate everything the Packers are trying to do. They understand the impact this has," he said. "They don’t want to be responsible for an additional (coronavirus) surge."
Packers home games generate about $15 million per game in local economic impact. Over the course of a year, the team contributes more than $150 million to the economy. Lambeau Field, which was shut down from mid-March to early June, is a year-round tourism and meeting-place destination. It is only partially re-open now.
Hotels, restaurants and bars are hurting because of the lack of tourism business this summer, Toll said.
"We are definitely hoping and praying there will be some fans here filling hotel rooms," he said. "Hotels are doing outstanding jobs cleaning and sanitizing. The restaurants are doing all they can to adhere to all the county standards. We’ve seen some close their doors, but a lot of times that’s out of precaution."
Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/