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Known as the NFL's
most historic stadiums, Lambeau Field has been the home of the Green Bay
Packers for more than five decades and four Super Bowl Champion teams. From the Packers inception in the 1920s,
until 1956, the team played at East (old City) Stadium. After the 1952
season, the team began playing some of their games at the new
County Stadium
in Milwaukee. The stadium eventually became home of the Milwaukee Braves
(MLB), and later the Milwaukee Brewers. By 1955, the NFL threatened to move
the Packers permanently to Milwaukee's County Stadium, if a new stadium was
not built for the team in Green Bay to replace City Stadium. The main
problem with the stadium was that it was too small with a seating capacity
of only 25,000. In 1956, a bond was approved allowing construction of a new
football stadium in Green Bay. Named City Stadium, the new facility was
completed in just one year. The Packers played their first game at City
Stadium on September 29, 1957, against the Chicago Bears. City Stadium had a
capacity of 32,000 when it opened and it was the first stadium built
specifically for a NFL team. Although a new stadium was built for the
Packers in Green Bay, the team continued to play several games at County
Stadium in Milwaukee until 1994.
Since its opening in 1957, fans
attending games have seen many expansions occur. By 1961, the
capacity at City Stadium increased to over 38,000. Two years
later, the capacity was once again increased to over
 42,000. In
1965, City
Stadium
was renamed Lambeau Field, after the death of the Packers founder,
E.L. Lambeau. During the same year, the stadium's capacity was
increased to 50,852. Once this addition was completed, Lambeau
Field had its basic shape as the entire field was enclosed by
seats. In 1985, 72 luxury suites were added, along with additional
seating areas, bringing the capacity to over 56,000. In 1990, even
more additions were made including 80 more luxury suites were
added along with over 1,900 club seats along the top rim of the
stadium. In 1993, the first video/scoreboard was installed above
the south endzone and in 1995, 90 more luxury suites were added.
Instead of
opting to build a new stadium, in January 2000, the Packers
announced that they would extensively renovate and expand Lambeau
Field. Between 2001 and the start of the 2003 season,
Lambeau
Field underwent a massive renovation to make it more fan and
player friendly. The main concourse was expanded, a new upper
concourse was added with ramps and elevators, and more restrooms
were added. In addition, nearly 12,000 seats were added along the
top of the stadium. This included club seats and luxury suites. An
atrium, known as "Titletown", was built as part of the new facade
of Lambeau Field. This area includes a Packers Hall of Fame and a
team store. A new Packers locker room, football operations facility
and administrative offices were also constructed. These
renovations at Lambeau Field were completed by the start of the
2003 season. Today Lambeau Field has a seating capacity of over
73,000. One single tier of bleachers circle the entire field.
Luxury boxes, club seats and press boxes are atop the stadium rim.
In August 2011 the Packers announced plans to expand Lambeau
Field. To be completed by 2013, this expansion will add 6,600
seats in four levels in the south endzone and will add a new
gate and rooftop view platform in the north endzone. The $130
million expansion, paid for by the Packers, will increase the
seating capacity to 79,000. Two new HD video/scoreboards were
added before the 2012 season.
Over its 50 years of existence, Lambeau Field has been the site of
many historical moments, including the first NFL Championship game
in Green Bay in 1961 and the "Ice Bowl" in December 1967, when the
temperature was 13 degrees below zero. It is also the site where
legendary coach Vince Lombardi coached the great Packers teams of
the 1960s. Lambeau Field is by far one
of the NFL's most recognizable stadiums. The Green Bay Packers won
their fourth Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLV, on February 6, 2011.
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