Sights and sounds from the Packers’ Friday training camp
With Marquette basketball coach Shaka Smart in attendance, the Packers hit the practice field for their third straight day of practice.
Packers shareholders travel from across the country and world to attend the annual meeting at Lambeau Field.For one family, the meeting represents a connection to something larger and a celebration of the team’s history and community.Other attendees, like a family from San Diego, also traveled long distances to experience the unique atmosphere of Lambeau Field and Packers training camp.
GREEN BAY − It’s sweltering as the afternoon sun beats down on Lambeau Field’s metal bleachers on July 25.
But the hot weather doesn’t stop thousands of Green Bay Packers shareholders from traveling across the country − and in some cases, the world − just to sit through hours of business discussion and financial presentations once every summer.
Just why are Cheeseheads so ecstatic about making the long journey?
One family of shareholders says the annual meeting at Lambeau Field means much more than just business.
“You feel like you’re part of something bigger here,” JoAnn McDonough said.
McDonough and her sister, Laura Colborn, both Wisconsin residents, have been bringing their long-distance relatives to the shareholders meeting in Green Bay for years.
This year, McDonough and Colborn were joined by family members Lucas Frank, Barb Frank, Russ Frank and Karen Frank-Johnson, who hail from Southern California and made the trek to Lambeau Field.
“There’s just so much history here,” Frank-Johnson said. “And loyalty.”
Lucas, Frank-Johnson’s son, said the experience of being at Lambeau Field and sitting inside the stadium bowl is incredible and makes the long journey worthwhile. McDonough said she likes how the Packers aren’t owned by a billionaire, and added that she appreciates the charity work the team does.
The family doesn’t make it to the shareholders meeting every year. When they do, it feels like a happy reunion.
“But when the games are on, we’re all with each other,” Barb Frank said.
Despite living thousands of miles apart, Frank-Johnson said, the family gets together in person to watch their team. Her cousins in Wisconsin, McDonough and Colborn, often come out to Los Angeles when the Packers play there. Russ leads a tailgate before the game, and the family joins in the occasional “Go Pack Go” chants that take over SoFi Stadium.
Packers fandom runs deep for the family
Frank-Johnson shared stories of growing up as Packers fans in California with her brother, Russ. She said they had a Ray Nitschke poster in their childhood bedroom and were Green Bay supporters for as long as she could remember.
When not at games together, Frank-Johnson, her sisters and cousins have an all-girls group chat they call “The Cheeseheads” to keep in touch about the Packers.
Most of the family members are Packers shareholders. Colborn has been a shareholder since 2011 and has season tickets to games in Green Bay. She also has several Packers tattoos, including a “4” for Brett Favre that she later crossed out when the quarterback went to play for the Minnesota Vikings.
Russ Frank wears a Cheesehead sombrero that he said gets many compliments out in California.
Others traveled from afar to see Packers
The Franks weren’t the only family to make the trip from California to Green Bay. Sarayu Simma, 17, and her brother Sahil Simma, 19, came all the way from San Diego to watch the Packers practice in the morning.
Sahil said the family of Packers fans flew in for what was their first time in Green Bay. He and Sarayu roamed the training camp grounds with a homemade sign and foam finger in hand to express their support for the team.
“It’s cool,” Sarayu said. “The environment is really different here because we don’t have an NFL team in San Diego anymore.”
Contact Mia Thurow at mthurow@gannett.com.