FANS TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR PACKERS GAME

TITLETOWN — Frank Ovalle took a week off his job to travel all the way from Burley, Idaho with his wife for Sunday’s game. He’s been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since high school, and this weekend is the first time he’s seeing Lambeau field.

“It’s like meeting my girl for the first time,” Ovalle said. “I’m never going to get over this again.”

He said he has been looking forward to watching the Packers and Chicago Bears on Sunday for a long time. He’s one of many fans who have traveled far to root for his team.

Patricia and Elizabeth Bovey traveled over 1500 miles from Everett, Washington. They said they’ve been planning this trip for years and dreaming about the day they can finally use their tickets.

Patricia, who is seeing the stadium for the first time, described it as “breathless.”

Visitors like the Ovalles and the Boveys are a big win for the local economy. Nick Meisner, Vice President of Digital Marketing for Discover Green Bay, said games are sold out and tourism is high during the season. Home games can generate about 15 million dollars in Brown County on a single weekend.

“That is direct and indirect spending,” Meisner said. “Money directly out of the pockets of people who are visiting our community, and frequenting our restaurants… staying at our hotels and filling up their tanks of our gas stations.”

Fans, local, visiting, Packers or Bears, are doing more than just watching a game, Meisner said. Fans are supporting a community.