July 28, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver (80) rushes with the football in front of safety M.D. Jennings (43) during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The fence directly across Lombardi Avenue in Green Bay is each year dedicated and painted in a special theme for the Green Bay Packers.

This year’s theme, which was selected from those submitted as part of a contest mixes Packers longtime receiver Donald Driver, his participation on “Dancing with the Stars,” and the Packers hope of getting to the Super Bowl.

This year’s theme: ”Donald and the Pack: Back to the Big Dance.”

Cute. Catchy. Very true to everyone’s mindset right now.

It’s certainly a slogan that has legs – In fact, we’re hoping its relevancy is just as important in January and February as it is today.

For a complete look and a video of the painting of the fence, we take you to the WBAY website …

Enjoy.

WBAY

The post below was provided today by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and details one’s retelling of a story told by the late great Vince Lombardi’s wife, Marie, way back in 1975. However, it’s one that I’ve never heard and doubt that you have either.

Take a short moment to give it a read. Packers fans everywhere are sure to understand exactly what Vince meant at the time he uttered his final remembrance of Green Bay.

Vince Lombardi’s Final Remembrance of Green Bay

This remarkable memory is courtesy of Jim DeWees. Jim is a Hall of Fame Executive Committee Member on the Board of Directors for the Packers Hall of Fame, Inc.

As a long-time member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Executive Committee, I have my own personal collection of Packers stories.

One I’d like to share one with you today stands out in my mind as truly unique.

Several years ago, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay. It was 1975, the year that Vince Lombardi and several of his players were inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. This group included Don Chandler, Willie Davis, Paul Hornung, Henry Jordan, Jerry Kramer, Ron Kramer, Max McGee, Jim Taylor and Fuzzy Thurston. The banquet, of course, was sold out, and packed with admirers and fans.

Marie Lombardi was there to accept the award on behalf of her husband. It was an emotional time, as it was a short time after he had passed away. She told the audience about a conversation she had with Vince a couple days before he died.

She said, “I was sitting on the edge of the bed and Vini (as she always called him) was so sick and semi-conscious. He awoke and said, “Marie, honey, I want to go home.”

I said, “You are home.”

And Vini said, “No, I mean I want to go home to Green Bay.”

This was a tear-jerking moment for everyone.

There was never a question about how the city of Green Bay felt about Vince Lombardi.

Now we know how Vince Lombardi really felt about Green Bay.

Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson spend some time relaxing during last year's Family Night at Lambeau Field

There was much discussion early this past spring that the Green Bay Packers might slink away from hosting its annual Family Night – an event that has been rained out several times the past few years and one that has seen declining attendance with each passing year.

Had the novelty worn off?

Well, the Packers gave their answer a month or so ago when the franchise said that yes, indeed, the annual event was going to be held – and that there would be added features that might help attract more fans to Lambeau Field.

Here’s an opportunity for fans to get an up and personal look at Lambeau Field and watch the Packers practice prior to the start of the preseason. Fans by the tens of thousands have taken advantage of that opportunity each year. How could team officials back away from making it happen each year? Shutting out the fans like they have with the fan experience that was shut down two years ago would be a poor public relations decision – thus the continuation of Family Night.

With that in mind, here’s your chance to get tickets to the event. Sales will open Monday, June 28.

Below is the full press release of the Packers sent out today from the team’s official website, www.packers.com. You can read it hear to find out the particulars for the event or scroll down for all you need to know.

Packers Family Night tickets on sale Monday

Tickets for ‘Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health,’ go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, June 25.

Priced at $10, tickets for the Aug. 3 event will be available throughTicketmaster and may be purchased in person, over the phone or via the Internet. Tickets also can be purchased at the Packers’ ticket office in person. All individuals, regardless of age, require a ticket for admittance.

A direct link to online ticket sales information can be found atwww.packers.com starting on June 25 at 9 a.m.

Over the phone, tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster toll-free sales number at 800/745-3000. The toll-free Ticketmaster Express number, 866/448-7849, also can be used. It is a self-service information line utilizing an automated system. A TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) number also is available at 877/474-4TDD.

In-person sales will be conducted at a number of Ticketmaster locations, including Boston Store locations in Brookfield, Glendale, Greendale, Janesville, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine and Wauwatosa. Other in-person locations are Younker’s in Green Bay and the Milwaukee Theatre.

‘Family Night’ will feature an intra-squad scrimmage between the Packers’ offense and defense. Evening activities get underway in the stadium at 5:30 p.m., followed by on-field football drills at 6:30 and the scrimmage at approximately 7:30. The event will benefit the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids foster care adoption program, a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

New this year is the Lambeau FanCam, a 360 degree photo that will be taken during the event that is later posted on www.packers.com, where attendees can go tag themselves and win autographed items. Tagging your group gives you the chance to share with other family members and friends. Fans will need to be in their seats to be included in the photo. Other activities include the popular Chili’s “Jerseys Off Our Backs” promotion with approximately 20 jerseys – all of which will have been worn by Packers players in the just-completed scrimmage – to be given away in a random drawing, the Copps–Pick ‘N Save Family Night Picnic and the spectacular Copps–Pick ‘N SaveFireworks Show to conclude the night.

The Kemps Packers Experience also returns this year next to the Tundra Tailgate Zone with a wide array of games including: the Gauntlet, Bungee Run, Touchdown Run, QB Challenge, Rookie Camp, Punt Challenge and Helmet Bounce. The evening will feature other activities for the younger fans, including sidewalk chalk and airbrush tattoos. In addition to the regular parking lot activities, a large, Packers-themed sand sculpture will be created throughout the day in the parking lot near the Oneida Nation Gate.

Parking for the event will be $5, with net proceeds to be donated to the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program.

In case of inclement weather, no refunds will be issued unless all stadium activities – from 5:30 p.m. until the end of the fireworks show – are cancelled.

For fans not attending the event, WLUK-TV FOX 11 again will originate a statewide telecast. In addition to Green Bay, the event will be televised on WITI-TV in Milwaukee, WMSN-TV in Madison, WFXS-TV in Wausau and WLAX-TV in La Crosse. Hosted by Drew Smith and other members of the Fox 11 sports and news staffs, the live broadcast will start at 6:30 p.m.

The entire training camp schedule is available online here.

That’s what happened yesterday when I received an email from a fellow by the name of Jay Platt, a writer for a website called The Sports Riot! .

This past week, Jay had been writing some incredibly fun and well-written articles about Green Bay, Wisconsin, and focusing on the Packers. The final blog in the series was posted yesterday and listed some of his favorite blog sites – this one included.

I’m honored and really give much of the credit to the talents behind the scenes – all the folks over at fansided.com. They have provided the tools and the opportunity to be a part of their team. Since April of last year it’s been quite a run to get this site up and running – thanks to all of you who have clicked on our link and come here on a regular basis.

As one of the five sites he cited in his blog, “Packers Fans Speak (and they do it well),” Lombardiave.com joins an elite group that includes Acme Packing Company, Cheesehead TV, Packers Gab, and Total Packers.

I suggest you bookmark those sites, too, as they are some of my favorites. We all have one thing in common: Our love for the Packers franchise and a love of writing about the team – good and bad.

Jay’s description of our site is as follows:

Lombardi Ave – This site serves one purpose and that’s to get Packers news out to Packers fans.  The articles are well written and give the reader all the information they will need regardless of the topic.  They also feature writers from other teams giving their point of view, in a non-antagonist way (something I’m not used to).  This gives the reader a different opinion you normally wouldn’t hear.  There are numerous links for fans to find other sites, and the site isn’t visually busy like so many others.  I get the idea that Lombardi Ave doesn’t care about frills, they just want to get to the point.

Check out The Sports Riot, and especially his series on Green Bay, you’ll love it. I know I’ve got the site bookmarked now.

And while you’re at it, Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

And with prices for this game down over 15 percent since Jan. 10, now is a great time to buy.  Check out deals on official NFL TicketExchange inventory from our partners at TiqIQ.  Its the best way to find a great deal right up until gametime. 

Hurry up! The tickets are going fast. And don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Click Here to check it out!

It was Dec. 31, 1967, and we all know where we were.

Me?

I was at George Steffen’s house … with my Dad and my brother, Francis.

It was damn cold outside … I don’t remember if our red Pontiac station wagon ever warmed up during the 1.5 mile ride into town to watch the NFL Championship Game that day … you remember the one – it featured the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys and has gone down in league lore as one of the best ever.

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Get to Lambeau early today ... it will take longer to get into the stadium. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Heading to Lambeau Field today for the Green Bay Packers vs. St. Louis Rams game at noon?

Well, you might want to leave a few minutes early.

That’s because it will take more time entering the stadium. “Enhanced screening” is the reason. Mandated by the National Football League, these new safety measures are great for safety, not so great for the fans who have to endure the extra time it takes to complete the inspection of each individual.

Stadium gates will open two hours prior to kickoff (10 a.m.) and police at each gate will use hand-held metal-detecting wands to conduct the screening.

Though additional screening officers as well as a streamlined process were put in place, it’s still being advised that fans arrive early.
To keep things running smoothly, it’s recommended that fans follow the following tips:
·         Enter the stadium earlier than in the past;
·         Use the stadium gate indicated on the ticket; and
·         Bring no or a minimal number of items into the stadium (small purses, etc.) to minimize wait time.

For more information, visit www.packers.com/gameday/gameday-information.

Be sure to Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.