At the Packers' annual shareholders meeting yesterday at Lambeau Field, 12,500 fans, "many wearing their best green and gold, filled almost half of the stadium bowl, which was less than the 25,000 fans officials had expected due to the number of tickets ordered," according to Charles Davis of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. The meeting attendance record of "more than 18,000 was set in 1998." Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said, "A lot of our new shareholders are from outside Wisconsin and it may have been difficult to get here." The Packers said that 21,000 shareholders "watched the meeting live online through a live feed available only to shareholders." The "lower-than-expected turnout does mean the Packers may allow shareholders to bring guests at next year's meeting, as they have done in recent years." Meanwhile, during the meeting, Murphy said that the 7,000 new stadium seats to be added by '13 "would greatly improve the team’s home field advantage." Murphy also showed fans the Mirror Ball Trophy, which WR Donald Driver "captured after winning ABC’s 'Dancing With the Stars' competition" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 7/25).
SPECS AND THE CITY: In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein notes Murphy "thanked the crowd for its support in financing" Lambeau Field's recent additions. Murphy "told the crowd about the Packers' plans to expand the Atrium area and add another tower like the one in the northeast corner where the pro shop is located." He said that he "did not have a timetable or cost for that plan" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/25). Murphy after the meeting said that the Packers Pro Shop "would be moved to the west side of the Atrium, across from where it now is." In Green Bay, Richard Ryman reports the tower "would be in the area of the current ticket office, which would move." Curly’s Pub "would move to the first floor, where the Pro Shop is, and the Packers Hall of Fame would relocate from the basement to the second floor, where Curly’s is." During the meeting, Murphy also discussed the "very visible addition of new seats and new video boards" at Lambeau Field. The Packers "made ample use of the venue's new HD video boards during the meeting." Murphy: "I talked to a few shareholders on the way out. You didn’t realize what a difference the video boards make" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 7/25).
FAN FAVORITE: Meanwhile, Packers GM Ted Thompson "received a rousing ovation and then jokingly warned the crowd he wasn't going to be very forthcoming in assessing to the 2012 team." Several new board and exec committee members also "officially were added and Murphy paid special tribute to a pair of long time contributors to the organization" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/25).
