Packers’ offseason good time to reflect

fpadmin | 07/04/2016

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By CHRIS HAVEL
As NFL franchises go Green Bay is blessed with great past, bright future
The Fourth of July is a good time to reflect on all that is great in this country. That includes the opportunity to enjoy the uniquely American sport of football, and especially the National Football League.
Clearly, it has been a pursuit of happiness for Packers’ fans.
A quick refresher: The Green Bay Packers are one of only two NFL teams (New England is the other) to qualify for seven straight post-season appearances.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the highest quarterback rating (107.9), the second-most touchdown passes (170 to Drew Brees’ 193) and the best TD-INT ratio (170 to 33) since 2011. Also, the Packers rank second in the NFL in wins since 2009 with 84, trailing New England with 93 and well ahead of Baltimore, Denver and New Orleans with 74. That’s a remarkable amount of success.
Toss in Brett Favre’s Pro Football Hall of Fame run, which included victory in Super Bowl XXXI, plus all the rich history and tradition such as the Golden Years that came before. It might be overwhelming if it wasn’t so commonplace.
In Green Bay, sustained success sprouts from a continuous, focused effort to proceed a certain way – corny as it may sound – the Packer Way. With success comes expectations, and with expectations comes the potential for disappointment. In the NFL, where one of only 32 teams can be truly happy at season’s end, the potential for disappointment is great.
It is why some fans cry out for a “go for it” mentality – I’m still not sure what exactly that means – because they feel a title is so close but yet so far. They want more without realizing they’re already getting more.
In fact, the Packers’ steady roster building, shrewd draft picks and timely free-agent signings all represent an aggressive mentality and approach.
Some fans need to remember the Packers are close year-in, year-out because they have a high sense of urgency. Common sense suggests a stagnant approach will doom a team. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. It’s a cliché for a reason. It’s true.
The Packers’ ability to stay on top of situations and to be pro-active is a testament to their sense of urgency. How can it be otherwise in a league where teams will do anything to win? How can it be otherwise with such a supportive, well-informed and yet demanding fan base?
The answer is obvious: It cannot be otherwise.
Many believe the Packers will do great things in 2016. I agree, but I also point out: And how does that differ from 2015, or 2014 … or 2011?
It doesn’t.
And here’s the point: The same expectations that are quite reasonable going into this season are no different from the expectations going into last year or any previous year.
The difference in Green Bay is that the expectations are valid. Not because GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy underwent sweeping changes in this off-season. On the contrary, it’s because they continue with the same steady, firm and proven approach that’s made the Packers winners.
A vast majority of Packers fans understand this. It’s just another reason to support their favorite team. They’re always in contention for something great special.
Furthermore, the new CBA protects the franchise financially. The TV revenue sharing is critical. So is the Packers’ ability to generate new revenue streams while enhancing the fan experience.
The Packers will enter training camp as an NFC favorite. There are many reasons for it. Jordy Nelson’s anticipated return is front and center. So is the likely defensive impact from a draft class that included Kenny Clark, Kyler Fackrell and Blake Martinez.
Throw in the holdovers – Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, etc. – and their stated desire to win a championship says a lot.
As they say, the Packers’ time is now.
I might add to that, but until training camp opens, the Packers’ time is their fans to speculate, ruminate and day-dream about between now and then.
Enjoy the next several weeks. Once the season begins it’s going to be a fast and furious ride.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com).
Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games. Also check out our new Podcast: Between the Lines for more Packers insights. New episodes every Wednesday.

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Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada

"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help. As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game, particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "

-Kayle

"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida

"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

-Matt

"Hi Amy- Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future! Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol! Go pack go!!"

-Julie Mastrianni

"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN

"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."

-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."

-Beverley Moore, Lancaster

"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"

-David Anastas, Worchester

"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."

-Dick Koerner, Neenah

"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."

-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario

"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."

-Sam Jones, Sedalia

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."

-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor

"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."

-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly