Lambeau Field listed as potential World Cup site
By Rob Demovsky rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com April 9, 2009
Lambeau Field has been tabbed as a possible venue for World Cup matches in 2018 or 2022 if the United States is selected as the host, but the size of the playing surface wouldnt be big enough to host an official match.
FIFA regulations for international matches require the playing surface to be approximately 115 yards long by 75 yards wide. The home of the Green Bay Packers wouldnt be wide enough. A soccer feasibility study done for the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District showed that the maximum width would be about 66 yards, two feet and even that included some portion of the field on the concrete apron around the field.
However, that probably wouldnt preclude an exhibition game from being staged here.
The Packers received a letter last week to gauge their interest, and they have until April 17 to respond.
Football is obviously first and foremost, making sure the field is in good shape for football, Packers President Mark Murphy said Wednesday. But to look for other events that we can bring to the community is something were interested in. The idea is bringing in an event that can have a big impact on the community, and with World Cup soccer, youre exposing Lambeau Field to a whole new set of fans.
Murphy said the Packers are looking at a number of different options for non-football events at Lambeau Field.
A total of 70 stadiums, including Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, are under consideration if the U.S. is awarded the World Cup.
Patrick Webb, executive director of the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District, said the district would likely pursue the possibility, but he isnt overly optimistic.
One of the issues well have to find out is, they have told us that they would never play an official match on (Lambeau Field) because it wouldnt quite fit. Part of the playing area would always be on the apron, he said.
The stadium district has been trying for about two years to attract an exhibition soccer match to Lambeau Field.
Im sure well throw our hat in the ring initially until they tell us the field doesnt work, he said.
The only other major sporting event held recently at Lambeau Field was the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic, a game between the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State in 2006, which drew a crowd of 40,890.
Nine countries are bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup matches. The hosts will be announced in December 2010.