Packers 2018 Preseason: Everything You Need to Know

| 08/08/2018


The Packers’ 2017 season was flipped upside down with Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone during a week six defeat to the Vikings. The team finished the year with a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008. With no plans to experience another season like 2017’s, the Green Bay Packers tapped the reset button and made a number of moves this offseason. But before the team kicks off its 100th season, there are four preseason games for younger and unproven players to either earn a hard-fought roster spot, or play their way to the free agency scrap heap.
The Green Bay Packers will play all four preseason games against AFC teams, with an opener at Lambeau Field and a week three reunion with a well-known wide receiver.
 
Here’s a look at the Packers’ upcoming preseason schedule:
Week 1: Thursday, August 9 – Tennessee Titans at Green Bay, 7 p.m.
The Packers’ first exhibition game will take place at home for the second season straight. This will be the team’s first time competing against the Tennessee Titans during the preseason at Lambeau in 10 years. The teams last met in the preseason in Tennessee four years ago, with the Titans winning 20-16 on a late fourth-quarter touchdown. This will also be Mike Vrabel’s first game of his head coaching career, and after a 2017 season that led to an unexpected appearance in the playoffs, the Titans look to be a team on the rise and a possible Super Bowl LIII contender.
 
Week 2: Thursday, August 16 – Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay, 7 p.m.
For the first time in 22 years, the Packers will host the Steelers at home in the preseason. The Steelers are coming off a disappointing playoffs showing but can still be considered one of the top teams in the AFC with the talent of Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. The game will also feature the return of former Packers safety Morgan Burnett, who signed with the Steelers as a free agent.
 
Week 3: Friday, August 24 – Green Bay at Oakland Raiders, 9:30 p.m.
Week three will bring a reunion with receiver Jordy Nelson and former Packers staff when the team travels to California to play the Oakland Raiders. Nelson was cut by the team in March after a disappointing 2017 season in which he recorded a career-low 9.1 yards per reception.  The Raiders are led by head coach Jon Gruden, a Packers assistant coach in the ‘90s, general manager Reggie McKenzie, a former Packers executive, and receivers coach Edgar Bennett, the Packers’ previous offensive coordinator.  The team also picked up Packers’ former tight end Jared Cook.
Traditionally, the third preseason game is when the starters see the most playing time and when teams most closely resemble the product they will field in the regular season—so fans should get a good look at Nelson playing with his new team. The Raiders are a frequent Packers preseason opponent, but this will be the Packers’ first preseason game in Oakland since 2001.
 
Week 4: Thursday, August 30 – Green Bay at Kansas City Chiefs, 7:30 p.m.
Green Bay will close out the four-game preseason slate at Kansas City. The matchup has become routine, with the Packers ending their preseason against the Chiefs six times over the last eight years. Last season, the Chiefs won the AFC West, and with Andy Reid returning as head coach and new QB Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the team’s hoping for a Super Bowl run this year. Expect the majority of starters to sit this game out as this is the last opportunity to closely examine the rest of the roster before the team is cut down to 53 players.
 
None of the Packers’ preseason games will be nationally televised, and the Packers will not have a rematch with any of their exhibition opponents during the regular season. If you’re interested in taking in the preseason action at Lambeau, contact Event USA for tickets!

 

Looking for the best way to pregame in Green Bay during the upcoming season?
 

Don’t miss out on Event USA’s world-famous tailgate party with a NEW and IMPROVED menu!
Starting in the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 9, Event USA is partnering with The Bar on Holmgren Way for its tailgate party!
 

 
With two different tailgate party packages to choose from, Event USA has your pre-game needs handled! Whether you go VIP or keep it traditional, Event USA’s Fan Tailgate Party includes an “all-you-can-eat” buffet of traditional Wisconsin “tailgate party” fare!
Starting three hours before kickoff, fans can chow down to their heart’s (and belly’s) content before heading into the hallowed grounds of Lambeau. The party is held just blocks away from the field.
 

 What’s included? 

Traditional Tailgate Party – $25/person

  • Enjoy unlimited food – Bratwurst, Hamburgers, Booyah (a local soup delicacy) or Chili, Warm Buns, Potato or Pasta Salad and Cookies
  • Drink unlimited beverages – Beer, Soda, Water, Coffee, Bloody Mary’s and Screwdrivers
  • Musical entertainment including traditional Packers favorite songs to get you ready for the big game
  • Special children’s admission – Kids 12 and under get a special souvenir!
  • An alumni player to greet fans with autographs available for purchase
  • Live radio broadcast
  • Prizes, special promotions and other celebrity appearances

VIP Tailgate Party – $45/person
Our VIP Party will have the same features as the Traditional but will also offer the following:

  • Enjoy unlimited food – All the same as our Traditional party plus Pulled Pork, Buffalo Chicken Wings with dipping sauces, BBQ Meatballs or a comparable entree and a Build-Your-Own Nacho Bar
  • Full open bar with rail brands and a Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar
  • Craft beers
  • Including both an enclosed heated tent and outdoor party space, with high top tables
  • Large screen TVs and screens with projectors to watch pre-game programming
  • Access to indoor restrooms

 
Event USA pulls out all the stops for an unforgettable tailgating experience. Click here to learn more!

Meet Packers Players Up Close and Personal!

| 08/07/2018

meet packers players

Meet Current Packers Players

Enjoy delicious hors’ d’oeuvres and cocktails while you meet Packers players, get their autographs and professional photos taken with them!
Sports expert and radio personality Chris Havel also digs into the hot topics with the players with an exclusive question & answer session.
Reception is included with our Gold Package, also available by itself or as an add-on to any package!
Player Autograph Reception Tickets

Our World Famous Tailgate Party

Kick-off an exciting day of football by attending our World Famous Tailgate Party!  With 2 different tailgate party options to choose from, Event USA has your pre-game needs handled!
Unlimited food, drinks, music and fun PLUS meet *ANTONIO FREEMAN!
All of our Home Game Hotel Packages automatically include our World Famous Tailgate Party! (except Lodge Kohler)
The Party begins 3 hours before kickoff and ends 30 minutes before kickoff.

* Please note that Antonio Freeman is scheduled to appear at our home game tailgate parties throughout the year but that on occasion, based upon other now unforeseen scheduling conflicts, he may not appear and in his place another veteran Packers player will be there.
 
 

 

Fans’ thoughts with Packers past, present

| 08/06/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Kramer’s HOF induction in Canton, Bakhtiari’s injury tops the headlines

GREEN BAY, Wis. –     How great was Jerry Kramer? How good is David Bakhtiari?

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Dyed-in-the-wool Packers’ fans know, to be sure, but even they got a reminder Saturday night.
On the same day Kramer was delivering his long-overdue acceptance speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Bakhtiari was being carted off Lambeau Field with a left ankle injury sustained late in the team’s Family Night practice.
Just as Kramer was pivotal in the Packers’ success in the 1960s, Bakhtiari’s pass-blocking is a key to the team’s fortunes today.
Who says offensive linemen are taken for granted?
They aren’t by the Packers’ fans that showed their support for Kramer and concern for Bakhtiari.
Fortunately, it appears Bakhtiari will be ready for the Packers’ Sept. 9 season-opener, according to an ESPN report.
Packers’ left guard Lane Taylor told ESPN: “I think (Bakhtiari) said he got his foot caught underneath him. Not 100-percent sure, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll ice it, evaluate it tomorrow. I’m not a doctor, so … hope he’s OK. I feel like it’ll be alright.”
If Bakhtiari’s injury is indeed minor, as sources say, this may not be an altogether bad thing.
It all but eliminates the possibility of another injury for Bakhtiari between now and the Chicago Bears’ opener.
Also, the Packers’ depth at tackle is thin.
Bakhtiari’s rest and rehab will give players such as Kyle Murphy, Jason Spriggs and Byron Bell more reps in practice and in the preseason games, beginning Thursday night.
Murphy, it appears, is first up behind Bakhtiari at left tackle. That makes sense given that he was ahead of Spriggs last season before being injured. Spriggs is trying to hold on at right tackle, while Bell is a salty veteran who can get a team through in case of an emergency.
The Packers received good news earlier in the week when starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga was cleared to practice. Bulaga, who is coming off a serious knee injury, looked good during individual drills last week. Bulaga had a scheduled day off Saturday, but his return couldn’t come soon enough.
Bulaga sustained a torn ACL in the 2013 Family Night Scrimmage, which was the last “scrimmage” and likely led Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to alter the format.
Receiver Randall Cobb left Friday’s practice early and didn’t return. He watched Family Night practice from the sideline. Apparently, he is experiencing normal soreness in his surgically-repaired right ankle, but should be OK with rest.
Elsewhere sore hamstrings outnumbered tweaked ankles, 4-3. Trevor Davis, Davante Mays, Aaron Jones and C.J. Johnson sat with sore hamstrings, while Kentrell Brice, Nick Perry and Cobb were out with ankle injuries.
Mike Daniels also sat due to a sore quad muscle.
Offensively, Davante Adams looked to be in mid-season form while mammoth Marcedes Lewis – touted for his blocking – made a nifty one-handed catch look easy.
Rookie receivers J’Mon Moore (who made a terrific 5-yard touchdown catch) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling each had drops, while Equanimeous St. Brown also impressed.
Of the rookie receivers, Moore remains my favorite to make the 53-man roster, although Valdes-Scantling (special teams) and former UW-Whitewater receiver Jake Kumerow are making strong bids to carve out a niche.
Kumerow has connections to the Packers: He was recruited to the University of Illinois by special teams coach Ron Zook out of high school. When Zook was fired, Kumerow transferred to UW-Whitewater, where he won two NCAA Division II titles.
As for Kramer’s big weekend at Canton, I couldn’t be more pleased for one of the Packers’ all-time greats.
I recall interviewing Kramer in The FAN studios during my radio show a few years back. At the time, several NFL players were in the headlines for unlawful off-the-field behavior.
When I groaned about it, and asked Kramer for his opinion, he said, “What I look at isn’t the few who screw up, it’s the majority who do it the right way. How would any of us fare if we were handed a pile of money at 21? What always impresses me is that the vast majority of players handle their business.
“Sometimes we focus too much on the negative, and not all the positives that are going on around us.”
From Kramer’s induction to Bakhtiari’s injury and subsequent good news, Saturday night was a gentle reminder of the offensive line’s importance to the Packers past and present.

Celebrate 100 years of Football!

| 08/02/2018
It’s Almost Here!

The 100 year celebration in Green Bay will take place on the weekend of September 7th with festivities throughout the city, a FREE concert, and a nationally- televised season opening game against Chicago on Sunday evening. Packers alumni players will be in town and a HUGE ceremony will take place during halftime of the game.
Here’s how we can help you enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime event:

Don’t miss the green and gold celebration of the century!

green bay packers tailgate party

Packers’ defensive coaches get loud

| 07/30/2018

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s defense finding identity, Rodgers, offense ready to get after it

GREEN BAY, Wis. –     The Packers’ first full pads training camp practice Saturday opened with a bang.

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Jimmy Graham and Josh Jones got tangled up, words were exchanged and defensive backs coach Joe Whitt got in the middle of it.
Afterward, Graham shrugged it off as teammates competing hard to get properly prepared for a rugged NFL season.
It sounded like business as usual for him.
Perhaps it will become so for the Packers.
Often described as “too soft” by some – and not just on defense – the Packers’ tempo and physicality appear to have jumped up a notch or two this camp.
That tenor continued Monday after a day off.
Rookie Jaire Alexander worked as the No. 1 nickel corner on Saturday. On Monday, he made his move by intercepting Aaron Rodgers’ pass intended for Randall Cobb on a slant route.
Alexander’s speed and hands are top flight.
Expect him to be more involved as camp unfolds.
Clearly, the defensive coaches are encouraged and/or allowed to be much more vocal than their Packers’ predecessors. It isn’t just rah-rah stuff, either. The coaches are instructing, to be sure, but they’re also not mincing words. They want it done right.
That is perhaps the most obvious difference, thus far, in Green Bay’s defense under new coordinator Mike Pettine’s direction.
Even an eight-year veteran such as Muhammad Wilkerson was getting after it during drills as well as the team portion. Wilkerson flashed a quick first move as a pass rusher, especially for someone his size (6-4, 315).
Other highlights from camp:
** Aaron Jones looked terrific on Saturday. The 5-foot-9, 208-pound running back appeared stronger and perhaps faster – if that’s possible – when the pads came on.
That was Saturday.
Jones since experienced hamstring tightness and was shut down until it heals. He’s already set to miss the first two weeks of the regular season due to a suspension.
Hopefully, this is just a hiccup.
The reality is Jones needs every rep possible to be prepared for his regular season Week 3 return to action.
Meantime, Jamaal Williams just keeps doing what he does, which is being available, accountable and pretty darn good.
While some media continue to write about Ty Montgomery’s prospects – he looks stronger, he looks ready, blah, blah, blah – the reality is Williams is the lead dog and that’s not changing.
** Kyler Fackrell finally made some noise in his third season. He beat David Bakhtiari in the one-on-one pass rush drill, which is a major accomplishment for anyone. It is especially so for Fackrell, who has been decidedly disappointing as a third-round pick to this point.
Perhaps the light will go on. Or maybe he’s benefiting from the defensive coaching change, too.
** Clay Matthews donned a clear visor affixed to his helmet after breaking his nose in the charity softball game this summer.
Perhaps Matthews’ visor is prescription, which will allow him to identify and hit opposing quarterbacks with more frequency.
Matthews does look well-conditioned and active. This is a big season for Matthews and edge-rush mate Nick Perry, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury for now.
** J’Mon Moore flashed on Saturday. Marquez Valdes-Scantling did so Monday.
Moore caught a slant pass from Rodgers on Saturday with a defensive back draped around him. He shrugged the DB, held onto the football and broke into the clear.
The ease in and out of breaks and the concentration were impressive. Moore is going to be productive as a rookie if he continues to make plays like that.
Valdes-Scantling high-pointed a Brett Hundley pass attempt in coverage and came out of it with the football.
It’s a good start for both.
Also, second-year receiver DeAngelo Yancey has been making plays throughout camp. We’ll see if he has done enough to merit a spot on the 53-man roster. It’ll take some doing though, especially if Moore and Valdes-Scantling continue to make plays.
** Punter J.K. Scott has a powerful leg. That much is obvious. He also seems to be smooth as place-kicker Mason Crosby’s holder thus far.
** While Bryan Bulaga rehabs after his knee surgery, third-year tackle Jason Spriggs has been busy at right tackle. Veteran Byron Bell also has worked there with the first unit.
 

The Benefits of Selling Your Green Bay Football Tickets to a Trusted Reseller

| 07/25/2018

Not able to go to the Game?

EventUSA will buy your Green Bay Packers tickets! We’ve been in the business for over 30 years and will purchase Packers tickets by the season or the individual game. Most of the tickets used in our home game packages are purchased from season ticket holders. When you sell your tickets to us, you are helping a fellow Packers fan experience the thrill of attending a game at historic Lambeau Field.

Why sell us your Packers Tickets:

  1. Seat Protection Guarantee
  2. We are an AUTHORIZED BUYER of Green Bay Packers tickets and a trusted local source!
  3. Trusted in the business for over 30 YEARS!
  4. Typically, we pay the HIGHEST PRICES for Packers tickets.
  5. You receive PAYMENT IN FULL. Unlike Ticket Master, Ticket Exchange, Stub Hub and other listing sites – you get the full agreed upon price.
  6. The sale of your tickets is IMMEDIATE. There is no guarantee on other sites that your tickets will eventually sell.
  7. You receive IMMEDIATE PAYMENT. Some companies send payment weeks after your tickets sell – if they sell at all.
  8. We have a CONVENIENT Green Bay location, only one mile from Lambeau Field. We can also handle the entire transaction by mail if desired.
  9. As a Green Bay company that is dedicated to serving the needs of Green Bay Packers fans, there is a high probability your tickets will be SOLD TO PACKERS FANS – not fans of the visiting team.

With Shareholders Meeting Signaling Start of New Season, Now is the Time to Sell Packers Tickets

| 07/25/2018

Two driving forces allow the Green Bay Packers to stand out among NFL franchises:  A long tradition of winning and an unparalleled closeness to the community.  2018 marks 100 seasons for the team, adding a unique aura to the upcoming shareholders meeting.
It is football’s most unique franchise structure. Throughout history, the Packers have been financially supported by the fans through five stock sales. The most recent, launched in 2011, allowed 250,000 more people to proudly say they are part owner of the team.
The 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, set for this evening, continues the tradition, while launching the team’s year-long century-mark celebration (preferably capped with a Super Bowl victory in Atlanta).
Being the first Packers Shareholders Meeting scheduled at night in many years, it’s predicted that more than 10,000 fans, from across the state and country, may be in attendance.
“I think the only more highly attended shareholder meeting is Berkshire Hathaway. They have more people, so maybe on our 100th anniversary we can break the record,” Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said. 
Shareholders arrive the day before the start of training camp and the “Packers Experience Festival,” a free, four-day event boasting a replica locker room, live music, a Packers alumni Q&A, photo stations, a USA Football kids’ clinic and more.
 

Are you a Packers Shareholder with 2018 game tickets to sell?

As the Packers are putting the offseason aside to renew their effort for another Lombardi Trophy, it is the time of year when both the team and its fans begin to prepare and plan!  Tickets are in the mail, and season ticket-holders are plotting out which games to see, and which games to share.  Using Event USA, letting others experience the football mecca known as Lambeau Field has never been easier!

Payment is guaranteed: Forget the anxiety of listing tickets through ticket exchanges or auction sites and not knowing if they’ll sell! When selling to Event USA, you will always be paid the full, agreed-upon ticket price.
Receive top dollar for your tickets: Event USA is committed to paying a fair, competitive price for every ticket. And unlike ticket exchanges, Event USA won’t subtract commission or listing fees from your deal.
Get paid quickly: Sports ticket marketplaces, like StubHub, only pay sellers if and when their tickets are sold…with sellers often waiting a long time to receive payment, even if their tickets DO sell. At Event USA, you get paid immediately upon delivering your tickets to the company. You can even sell your Packers tickets to Event USA BEFORE they’ve been printed and sent out by the team and get money upfront!
No wondering, waiting & monitoring: When you attempt to sell your tickets on websites like StubHub, you are really consigning  your tickets. There’s no guarantee they will sell. You may have to constantly monitor the price as the market value of tickets rises and falls. And if Aaron Rodgers or some other key player goes down with an injury, and the ticket values plummet, yours will go down along with them. When you sell to Event USA, you get your price immediately…no wondering, waiting and monitoring.
Ticket protection: Selling your family’s valued seats to someone you don’t know can do a number on your nerves. Event USA offers peace of mind through its “Seat Loss Guarantee.”
Sell your tickets at any time: Event USA buys tickets as soon as the schedule details are released in April and continues all season long, right up until the last game is played, but know that selling early usually means getting a better price!
Sell confidently and conveniently: Located about a mile down the road from Lambeau Field, Event USA offers a safe, secure and professional environment to sell tickets. Our reputation for excellent customer service is well-earned; you’ll never have to worry about the logistics of selling directly again! Stop in, get a quote, and leave with cash!
Don’t live in Green Bay?  Event USA also purchases tickets over the phone. Tickets can then be sent securely from anywhere in the world!
Whether the game is months or days away, your extra Packers tickets can be sold to Event USA quickly, safely, easily and at a great price! Contact us today: 920.722.5377

Looking to buy Packers tickets? Event USA has everything you need to make your trip to the Frozen Tundra complete. Learn more.