GREEN BAY — A small group of Packers employees and their household families will be allowed into Lambeau Field during the home game against the Bears this Sunday.
The game will still be closed to regular fans with tickets, the team acknowledged in a statement Monday. But the Packers said they are hopeful that the stadium will host ticketed fans "in the coming weeks," and that the small group allowed in this Sunday is part of the process of testing new COVID-19 safety protocols at Lambeau.
Sunday's group of about 500 people will test the following new safety protocols:
- Guests must comply with the new seating policy which requires attendees to remain within their socially distanced household “pod” of seats unless using the restroom or purchasing food or beverages.
- Other protocols include the use of mobile tickets as the method of entry, enhanced cleaning measures in the stadium, hand sanitizer stations throughout the concourse, cashless concession locations and required face coverings unless actively eating or drinking. Tailgating in the Lambeau Field parking lots also will be prohibited for Sunday’s guests.
“We want to ensure that we are ready to host fans if and when that time comes,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy in a statement. “We have worked closely with Bellin Health and local public health leadership to implement thorough protocols that have been refined over the last few months. These protocols have been successful at other NFL facilities, and we are confident in our operations and that this small group of staff and family members will follow the protocols.”
The Packers cited a similar effort across the NFL of slowly allowing more people back into stadiums for home games.
As a reminder, the Packers will not be hosting ticketed fans for both the Bears or Eagles games. Season ticket holders who have opted in to purchase tickets will receive instructions at a later date, if the team does allow such fans to attend home games this season.
