Packers Stadium History

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Packers Stadium History

The Sandlot Years:

Inevitably, procedures at Packers games have come a long way since 1919-20, when the team subsisted on the contents of George Calhoun's hat. At that time, there were no ushers, cheerleaders, band or public address system, which hadn't yet been invented. There weren't even any seats, and admission was free.

From 1919-56, the Packers played their Green Bay games -- including their first league contest -- at virtually the same address. Their first home games were at Hagemeister Park, a vacant lot marked with a football gridiron, adjacent to East High.

There were no gates because there wasn't a fence. Spectators just dropped off the Walnut Street trolley and walked to the sideline, or drove their own cars and parked about 10 yards behind the ropes stretched around the playing field.

If they felt like it, they either sat in their automobiles or on top of them, but most preferred to get out and follow up and down the field. By moving as play progressed, one always had a "50-yard line" location and was handy to any donnybrook that might require a little help. In fact, when things got exciting, the crowd sometimes spilled right onto the field, surrounded the scrimmage in a big circle and virtually took part in every play. Teams didn't huddle in those days, or the fans would have been in that, too.

When the half ended, teams grabbed blankets and adjourned to opposite end zones where they relaxed and talked over the tactics of the next half. The crowd formed a ring around the players, a practice encouraged since it made a handy wind break. Fans weren't bashful about joining the discussions either, sometimes with surprising results. At least one early game was pulled out of the fire by a spectator's halftime suggestion.

In 1920, the city built a section of stands -- a small bleacher that held about 200 -- giving the Packers their first justification for charging admission. The next year, a portable canvas fence was erected around the perimeter and a regular admission charge inaugurated.



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The decision to play games in Milwaukee (including State Fair Park and County Stadium) played a key role in the Packers' survival. It allowed the team to tap a larger market and thwart any efforts to establish another competing pro football team there. The Packers played games in Milwaukee for 62 straight years (1933-94) until opting -- mostly for financial reasons -- to move all games to Green Bay beginning with the 1995 season.


The Packers' seven home fields, 1919-94

GREEN BAY
Hagemeister Park, 1919-22...Classic sandlot, near Baird and Walnut streets, adjacent to East River...East High School and Joannes Park now occupy land.
Bellevue Park, 1923-24...Minor league baseball park, near Hochgraves Brewery, in 100-200 block of North Main Street.
City Stadium, 1925-56...Located behind East High School...Expanded several times to reach peak capacity of 24,500...Annually voted the NFL's best playing surface, because it sat just yards from the East River...EHS football team still uses downsized facility.

MILWAUKEE
Borchert Field,1933...Hosted one game...Minor league baseball park, home to NFL's Badgers from 1922-26...Located near Burleigh, Chambers and North Eighth streets...Torn down in 1954, it's now a children's playground.
State Fair Park, 1934-51...Location: West Allis, Wis., near West Kearney, Greenfield, South 77th and South 84th streets, on Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.
Marquette Stadium, 1952...Located on Marquette campus.
County Stadium, 1953-94...Home to baseball's Milwaukee Braves and Brewers...Off Interstate 94...Both benches were on east sideline...end zones ran north-south, from third base to right field...demolished in 2000 to make parking lot for Miller Park.


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