Lambeau!

I grew up a Cowboys fan. My dad was a Cowboys fan, my mom was a Cowboys fan, my Grandma June was a cowboys fan, my aunts and uncles were Cowboys fans. We watched the games on TV, had football pots for the playoffs, wore Cowboys t-shirts, and listened to the games on the radio after church on Sundays. My parents company helped build the stadium in Irving. We had season tickets at one point. My childhood memories feature reselling tickets in the parking lot and bundling up for a playoff game. We won Superbowls and lost heartbreaking games. America's Team was our team. 

I loved watching football and followed teams and stories from around the NFL. Second to my love of the Cowboys, a tiny town in Wisconsin held my attention. I loved how they built through the draft and how the community owned the team. They felt like the 'classic classy' team when free agency began. First and foremost among them, Brett Favre, their quarterback. While I wasn't a fan of the end of his career and his failure to retire when he should have, I loved watching him up to that point. So when I saw that Lambeau Field almost crossed our path, I couldn't resist the opportunity to pay a visit to a piece of football legend.

We awoke early, loaded the car in the rain, and set out to make our 12:45pm tour. Driving through the rain required a level of focus I just didn't have, so we picked up some Starbucks to supercharge us on the road. We arrived with time to get gas, figure out the parking, and have a snack before entering the massive looking building.

We found ourselves in a modern marvel, standing in a shiny atrium beautifully housing memorabilia, a museum, a restaurant, and every amenity imaginable. Confused, I looked around, expecting a historic stadium, not this ode to capitalism. We checked in for our tour and took a few minutes to look around seeing the world's largest team store and the Hall of Fame. Once the tour began, things got cooler. The floor in the atrium's striping aligned with the actual stripes on the field. That sort of cool detail is what I love about stadiums.

After walking through luxurious hallways and fancy club seating, we finally entered the famed field. Looking down, we took in what appeared to be an old, wooden field. Something simple and pure. A place where the game (not the jumbotron) captivates the fans. The guide explained that the original wooden benches had been replaced with aluminum, but changing to more modern seats with seatbacks and cupholders would significantly reduce the seating capacity, and for a place where season tickets and a spot on the season ticket waiting list can be passed down from generation to generation, losing seating capacity just isn't an option. 

We went down to field level, and walked through the tunnel just like the players do on Sunday. Looking up the seats felt so close, like the whole town really could be a part of the game. Just being there felt like being a part of history. 

After the tour we enjoyed a meal in the on-site restaurant, then explored the Hall of Fame. We saw so many cool things, with exhibits about equipment, simulators the kids enjoyed, and all sorts of cool memorabilia. We sat in the Ice Bowl Theatre where a shortened version of the famed game plays as you sit in the bleachers and listen to the live broadcast. As a cowboys fan, the heartbreak still hurt.

We finished the day with a trip to the gift shop where we marveled at the variety of objects that carry a Packers logo. We tried on cheeseheads and picked up a magnet. What an amazing day experiencing a hallowed place and bringing a part of my childhood to life. 

Hopping back in the car, we drove to St. Paul for the night in a nice downtown Hyatt. I floated through the drive reliving the stadium visit in my head. So I'll leave you tonight with some pictures form the day, but please know that they don't do it justice at all.