The Green Bay Packers are one of the most unique franchises in all of professional sports. Without a traditional owner, the Packers organization is deeply tied to the community of Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin as a whole. With a history that dates back over 100 years to 1919, the year the Packers were founded, the story of the team and its community is filled with numerous heartwarming moments.
Because of this unique symbiotic relationship, a plethora of traditions involving the fans and their love for the Packers have started and been continued over the years.
In the past decade, one of these traditions has been the Packers fence. Now, there are several fences of homes across the street from Lambeau Field that are painted with various murals. However, the tradition started about 10 years ago with one mural artist named Zane Statz.
Zane spoke with Wisconsin Sports Heroics to give some history and fascinating details about the original Packers fence.
Can you give us a brief overview of the history of the Green Bay Packers fence?
“I went to school at St. Norbert from 2010-14. After I graduated, I had a portfolio of all of the art and design work I had made. A guy from New York City found my work. He owned a house on Shadow Lane. He called me and asked if I wanted to paint a mural.
I brought an assistant with me because of the magnitude of the project. And that’s how it started. We do a different theme every year.”
Zane painted the fence at 1267 Shadow Lane for a number of years but has passed that project on to his former assistant. He now is in charge of painting the 70-foot fence across the street from Lambeau Field, a project that the community is invited to take part in.
How do you determine what to paint on the Packers fence?
“Well, it depends on the culture of the team; prediction of what the year is going to be. The COVID year, the theme was community because fans weren’t allowed in the stadium. Fans could purchase their likeness to be on the fence and the money donated to COVID relief.
“I usually don’t have the final design figured out until a few weeks prior because of roster changes, injuries, and such. I have a few designs heading into August and September and make the final decision a couple of weeks before the season.”
Zane revealed that the Packers do not pay for the mural, nor do they require the mural artists to purchase the name-image-likeness rights to the team or players.
What are your top 3 favorite designs on the Packers fence?
“The COVID-19 one from 2020 because of the whole community side and raising $12,000 for COVID relief. Then this year’s fence because 500 people showed up to paint it. Took 10 hours to paint.
“And the first one because of the rush behind it. It was all about Eddie Lacy.”
Zane Statz and ZAS Designs Does More than Just the Packers Fence
In addition to the Packers fence, Zane also works with players to make custom apparel, cleats, and the like. He revealed that, in 2023, he designed 22 different pairs of custom cleats for Packers players.
These included the “My Cause My Cleats” shoes that were worn by Jayden Reed and Sean Clifford last year.
Zane also designed the cleats the Romeo Doubs will wear this year for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative. Earlier this year, Doubs revealed that he will be representing Tricia’s Troops this year with is cleats, a story that was covered here when he made the announcement.
If fans are interested in Zane’s work, they can visit his website, ZAS Designs.
Fans can also follow him on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook.
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