http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090514/PKR01/90514148/1058 

The grass that will stain the jerseys of future Green Bay Packers and cushion their falls will be placed on the revamped Ray Nitschke Field on Friday.

Some of the practice fields aesthetic details are still under construction, but the new grass brings a sense of near-completion to field manager Alan Johnson.

With what we see now, we fully expect training camps will be held there, Johnson said.

The revamped field east of the Don Hutson Center includes permanent lights for night practices, a 55-yard heated section for winter practices and bleachers for up to 1,500 fans.

After the new grass starts to take hold a month from now, it will be stitched with synthetic material to strengthen the field.

Team President Mark Murphy has said it will help the Packers to practice on the surface the same kind they play on in Lambeau Field throughout the season. Previously, the team has practiced inside the Hutson Center late in the season.

As much as the hybrid turf will mimic Lambeau, Nitschke Field will have its own atmosphere, Johnson said.

Its going to be beautiful, he said. It will be exciting to see people come and enjoy it.

Fans who attend training camp this summer will notice a safer and better view of practices. Bleachers will move people away from the bustling Oneida Street and elevate them, Johnson said.

They should feel like theyre closer because theres no chain-link fence to look through anymore, he said.


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1) I have a few questions perhaps some local could answer for me. How will the new bleacher be oriented? I'm wondering about the angle the sun will be hitting the bleachers during hot August afternoon practices.

2) I like the idea of no chain link fence to look trough. I hope no little kid runs out with the players or some nut job screws it up for the rest of the fans. They ought to have at least a single rope "barrier"

3) I used to go often to see practices in my younger days but now that I am half a continent away it have been a few years since I have been to one. I would like to get more information on the current set up.

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I think this is a good and not sure why it wasn't done sooner to be honest.

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The field is on the east side with the bleachers on the east side of the field. The field is in the shadows of the Hutson facility so as the sun sets there will be no sun issues.

As for the fence, the stands are are raised but there still are barriers much like a baseball stadium. Not a problem for security.

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Thanks Trippster.

So the people on the bleachers will be facing the sun only for evening practices.

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