Packers’ schedule presents great challenge, opportunity

fpadmin | 04/22/2013

By CHRIS HAVEL

GREEN BAY – Two off-season dates on the NFL calendar draw tremendous interest from fans. The first is the release of the schedule. The second is the three-day NFL draft.
For Packers’ fans these dates are prominently circled for good reason: No other team’s fan base has as great a vested interest.

2013 Printable Packers Schedule
(Right Click, ‘Save As’ to download)
2013 PFT Package Information

To them the schedule is the straw that stirs the drink. Weddings, vacations, reunions and perhaps funerals are planned around the Packers’ game dates – both home and away. It is why there is such an uptick in all things Packers when the schedule is released.
Local businesses plan much of what they do around the Packers. Whether they are diehard Packers’ fans or closet Bears’ fans they understand and accept that the dates are integrated in people’s lives.
The schedule’s release enables Packers’ fans to plan their future.
When fans print out the 2013 schedule they likely will acknowledge that it is a brute. They also are apt to find more W’s than L’s when they check out the dates and opponents.
The Packers open Sept. 8 in a nationally televised 3:25 p.m. start at San Francisco, the site of their most recent playoff embarrassment.
To suggest the Packers are seeking revenge is to forget January’s nightmare. Forget revenge. The focus is on competing, challenging and winning – none of which the Packers did to any great extent in bookend losses to the 49ers in 2012.
“Opening day is always exciting,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “Playing the San Francisco 49ers is obviously a challenge that we look forward to.”
The Packers play host to Washington and quarterback Robert Griffin III in their Sept. 15 noon opener at Lambeau Field. That’s two read-option teams in as many games, so we’ll find out early if the Packers’ defensive staff learned anything from its off-season trip to Texas A&M.
An early bye week (Sept. 29) is offset by a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit against the Lions. The four-day turnaround from a Nov. 24 home game against Minnesota to a Nov. 28 Thanksgiving game is tough. The bright side is it gives McCarthy and his team a second “bye” in that players should get four or five days off before the four-game stretch run.
The Packers’ first quarter of the season is difficult in that it begins with three games against playoff teams (49ers, Redskins and Bengals), including two on the road.
After wrapping up the first four games with a home contest against the Detroit Lions Oct. 6, the Packers travel to Baltimore to face the defending Super Bowl-champion Ravens Oct. 13.
The season’s fourth quarter is even more challenging than its first.
It begins with a Sunday night game at Lambeau Field against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 8. The Falcons have adopted a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality. Undoubtedly this game will have significant playoff implications.
After that, it’s on to Dallas to face the Cowboys Dec. 15. Then it’s back home to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers before a Dec. 29 regular season finale at Chicago against the Bears.
While fans’ lives revolve around the schedule the Packers’ draft is the lifeblood of the team.
No other NFL team places as much emphasis on it.
The Packers’ financial situation dictates that they spend wisely, if sparingly, in free agency. The Packers’ “draft and develop” philosophy has served them well, and GM Ted Thompson and his scouts widely are considered among the best in the league.
The draft gives hope to fans whose team doesn’t play in free agency. Every pick is potential starter. Every draftee is a possible Pro Bowler; every pick is gold waiting to be mined.
Most Packers’ fans like their chances at San Francisco in the opener, and they love their chances in the draft.
Meantime, they’ve got a great deal of planning to do. Weddings, vacations and reunions will wait only so long.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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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

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-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