The Packers are "turning their fixer-upper attention to the Lambeau Field luxury suites" and will "likely add the ability for fans to open the windows on them," according to Jason Wilde of ESPN WISCONSIN. Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said, "That’s something we’ve [been] studying for a while. ... We’re going to do a pretty major renovation and the big thing we’re studying is we want to open the windows. That’s the biggest issue we hear about. (Suiteholders say), 'I love our suites but I want to feel connected.'" Wilde noted most of the current suites, which were built during the stadium redevelopment in '03, are "behind immovable glass." The new south end zone suites, which were added during the team’s expansion two years ago, "have front windows that can open." Murphy said that the idea is to "install heating systems that would allow fans to keep the windows open while not being overwhelmed by the Wisconsin winter cold." Murphy added that the "only football-related construction work going on ... is a new hydrotherapy room" (ESPNWISCONSIN.com, 3/25). In Green Bay, Weston Hodkiewicz reports a new Wifi system is "being installed for fans to easily access internet during games, which has been a part of the NFL's initiative to improve the game-day experience for fans." Murphy said, "It's absolutely for the fans. We heard from the league today, the generation Z, they have five screens. What are the five screens? I can get to three or four" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 3/26).
SPREAD OFFENSE: In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein noted the Packers "have bought out all the land" along the south side of Lombardi Avenue and "leveled all but one business as part of their Titletown redevelopment plan." Their hope is to "create a business district that will enhance the Lambeau Field experience and create new streams of revenue for the team." Murphy said that the team is "getting closer to announcing plans for which tenants will occupy the land it owns, but they are taking it slow." Most of the area "will feature business such as restaurants, retail stores and possibly hotels. But Murphy said that there are "plans for a public plaza set aside for fans on gamedays and visitors and locals the rest of the time." Murphy "did [not] provide any details" about the plaza's location or size (JSONLINE.com, 3/25).
