The Green Bay Packers‘ loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football was upsetting in a couple of ways. First, it’s the fourth time in a row that the Packers have lost to the Lions. Second, there was more blue in the crowd than there was green and gold. Many fans expressed their frustrations and distaste for seeing the sea of blue in the stands on Thursday night.
It seemed like some fans were more upset about this particular thing than the Packers losing. However, if I were a Detroit Lions fan right now, I would want to travel and see my team as well; It’s been a while since they’ve been atop the North.
The Packers Gold Package
Gpg Historic Photos Vs Detroit Lions 10192022 0014
For us to understand the frustrations of some fans, we have to explain why they’re mad. Green Bay had some sort of agreement with Milwaukee back in the 1950s, stretching up until the 1990s, where they would play games at Milwaukee County Stadium, which if you’re familiar with County Stadium, was a baseball field.
For three home games a year, Green Bay would play in Milwaukee But, the team decided they were losing money rather than making money with these games in Milwaukee, so they decided to stop having games down there.
Milwaukee residents were mad, and rightfully so. They had been attending these games for years, and for the Packers to just decide that they wanted to go away with the whole concept, fans were angry. In response to this, Green Bay decided to come up with a special ticket package called the “Gold Package” in which those who lived in Milwaukee were able to purchase a season ticket and attend these games a couple of times a year.
It wasn’t a huge debacle until Thursday night when Lambeau Field looked a little like Ford Field with the amount of Lions fans that were in the stands.
This is due in part to the fact that those who hold the Gold Package, don’t want to travel two hours north on a Thursday night for a Packers game, so they end up selling their tickets for the game.
The obnoxiously long waiting list.
There are currently over 150,000 people on the Packers’ Season Ticket Holder waiting list, hoping that one day they will get that special letter in the mail saying their time has arrived, they are Packers season ticket holders! Some wait years and years and their day doesn’t ever come.
Fans thought it was ridiculous that there was more blue in the stands than anything. It’s been nearly 30 years, why is the Gold Package still a thing?
“Gold Package” needs to be done. It’s been 30 years, the team plays in Green Bay, not Milwaukee. https://t.co/CLYkosYFlm
— Jack (@YelichWasRobbed) September 29, 2023
Fans were trying to look for other excuses as to why Green Bay lost against the Lions. They blamed the Gold Package.
On the list of problems on display last night, the Gold Package is like number 4,782. https://t.co/gqWrg8bd6q
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) September 29, 2023
However, some fans argued that it’s only a handful of Gold Package ticket holders, not every single one of them is selling their tickets.
Not all of us gold package ticket holders are selling them to opposing teams fans. That’s the point I’m frustrated about is we’re all getting blamed for it. You can’t stop people from selling their tickets if they can’t attend a game either
— Marissa (@marissagrace___) September 29, 2023
The Packers released a statement
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
The Packers released a statement in response to people’s frustrations with the amount of Detroit fans in the stands last night:
The Packers have encouraged our ticket holders to sell to other Packers fans when possible. The secondary market, however, allows fans from anywhere to purchase tickets and Lambeau Field remains a popular destination for all fans, including those from other teams. We have seen this, particularly with divisional games. Conversely, this is how the Packers often enjoy many Packers fans at away games.”
Thoughts?
Should the Packers be at fault for this situation? Or should Gold Package ticket members hold each other accountable when it comes to selling their tickets and where they’re selling their tickets? I personally don’t see a problem with it, but I can see how this can be a bad look on the Packers, seeing more away fans than home fans at Lambeau Field.
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