BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Tourism officials say the Packers announcement that fans won’t be allowed at training camp, Family Night, or preseason games likely means a $40 million loss for the Green Bay area economy.
From the player bike rides, to fans lining the Ray Nitschke Field fences, and families packing Lambeau Field for a practice, a lot will be missing as the Packers prepare for the 2020 season.
“I know a lot of people like going and they’re going to miss it, but what are you going to do about it? You’ve got to be careful if you want to live,” said Nancy Pilz, a season ticket holder from Sheboygan Falls.
While fans may survive without preseason rituals, Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Brad Toll tells FOX 11 some businesses might not.
“Given the lack of revenue really since March until now, if we have a really weak fall as well, it’s going to be tough for a number of businesses to survive.”
The CVB puts the area economic impact of training camp and Family Night between $9 million and $10 million. Losing two preseason games is about $30 million, $15 million apiece. Most of that is expected to be lost with no fans.
Throw in the recently canceled Badgers-Notre Dame game at Lambeau Field, and Toll says the area economy is already losing about $55 million.
