Packer Pilgrimage 2012

It's always fun to head to Lambeau Field. It's almost as fun to reminisce about your trips to Lambeau. I've been to the home of the Packers for a game three times now, and each one has been memorable in its own special way. In 2009, I saw Aaron Rodgers hit Greg Jennings for a game winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. In 2010, I was there when the Packers broke out their blue and gold throwbacks and stomped the 49ers on their way to a Super Bowl win. And now I've seen the 2012 incarnation of the Packers on their home field.

I was fortunate enough to get free tickets to this game through work, so the entire day was a gravy train as far as I was concerned. It was a bit chilly at the start, but things warmed up quite nicely. Sunday was the longest I've been at Lambeau before a game, and I had a great time soaking in the atmosphere. Everyone there is happy. The grills are fired up and the beer is flowing, even at 9:30 in the morning. People are singing and dancing and generally just having a good old time.

This was the first trip I've made to Lambeau since the south end zone remodeling project began. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the original concept sketches, but having seen what it looks like in person, I have to say I'm a big fan. They managed to close in the south end of the stadium and add seating without messing up any of the ambiance of the stadium. The designers said the addition would create a "wall of sound" effect, but I didn't notice any additional sound on Sunday. It's possible that the crowd wasn't as enthusiastic as they could have been, but it didn't seem like it was much louder than normal.

Overall, though, it was a great time. We left for Lambeau at 6:30 in the morning and didn't get back until 7:15 at night, so it was a pretty long day, but well worth it.

Here are some of the highlights. Make sure you click the pictures to enlarge.