GREEN BAY — It’s international Packers fan week at Lambeau Field. Not officially, maybe, but in order of fact.
Packers fans from Germany, Ireland, England, the Czech and Slovak republics and other countries descended on Green Bay this week because, with two home games in just five days, it’s the best opportunity to be immersed in their favorite (American) football team.
“It’s once in a lifetime for us,” said Andre Sturm, of Germany — although he didn’t rule out coming back again.
Sturm was tailgating with three friends in Lot 1 before the game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The four were part of a group of 50 German Packers fans who’ll also attend the Miami Dolphins game at Lambeau Field on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.
They flew from Germany to Chicago to Green Bay. The pilot on their plane to Green Bay appreciated his audience. “He announced ‘Go Pack Go’ over the public address system and the whole plane was ‘Go Pack Go!'” Sturm said. “Twice.”
The group flew into Green Bay, then relocated to Fond du Lac, an hour south, because hotel rooms were cheaper by enough to make the jaunt worth it, however many times they’ll do it this week. They also took some time to tour Chicago — about four hours south of Green Bay.
Laurie Smårs, who’s been a Packers fan “forever,” attended her first game at Lambeau (and her first game ever) Sunday. But it’s not her first time in Green Bay. She lived in Wisconsin, attending high school in Manitowoc and college at the University of Wisconsin. Nowadays, Nora, Sweden, is her home.
“I usually come in the summer,” she said. She was sorry there wasn’t snow on Sunday. “We have snow (already) in Sweden.”
Before the game, she got a photo in an ice chair at Titletown, and at the Lambeau Leap and Vince Lombardi statues at Lambeau Field.
“It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s great. I am hyped,” she said. “I’m just taking it all in.”
The U.K. & Irish Packers Group, which also includes Scottish fans, makes the trip to Lambeau every year, and takes advantage of back-to-back home games whenever it can. The 50 tour spots initially offered sold out in 10 minutes, so they added 20 more, which were promptly claimed. But it was no surprise — the trip to Lambeau has sold out every year since 2021. Fans who bought a four-day package are home already, but the rest will be back for the Miami game.
The group met with Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy on Monday, also kind of a regular occurrence, and had their photo taken with him in Lambeau Field. They also did the Lambeau Field stadium tours, because if you travel 4,000 miles, it’s almost a requirement.
To add to their week, they also got to meet Packers punter Daniel Whelan, who hails from County Wicklow, Ireland. He signed with the Packers in 2023 and is the first Irish-born NFL player since the retirement of placekicker Neil O’Donoghue in 1985.
Twenty-six members of the Slovak & Czech Fanclub attended Sunday’s game and tailgated in Lot 1 which, like the Lambeau Field tours, is a required activity. During the week, they toured Packers Heritage Trail sites, took Lambeau Field tours and visited the Packers Hall of Fame museum.
Packers fans attending the game who want to meet the long-distance travelers will probably find them on the east side of the stadium before the game, under the bevy of national flags in Lot 1.
