The Lambeau Field Atrium renovation project, which began in March with the expansion of the Oneida Nation Gate, will see work commence in the coming months on the north side of the facility.
The Packers Hall of Fame will be closed beginning Nov. 18 in order to dismantle and remove exhibits in preparation for the construction of the new Packers Pro Shop in that area. The new Packers Hall of Fame will be located in sections of the first and second floors of the Atrium, with construction beginning in July 2014 and completion scheduled for April 2015.
The Packers Hall of Fame Inc., the non-profit corporation independent of the Packers that guides the Hall, will be loaning a selection of its artifacts and memorabilia to be on display at the Neville Public Museum, through a partnership with the Neville. Details of the arrangement will be announced in the near future.
The new Pro Shop, scheduled to open in July 2014, will be larger in size and located in a revamped ground level. The store will feature entrances on the north and east side immediately adjacent to parking. The Pro Shop will remain open as it transitions from its current to its new location.
In addition, the Miller Lite Gate and the Harlan Plaza will be closed from the end of the season until July 2014, while the plaza area is excavated as part of the new Pro Shop construction. The Oneida Nation Gate will serve as the Atrium's only entrance during this time.
The new east-side gate, which also will open in summer 2014, will serve the Pro Shop, Atrium and stadium on gameday and also will greatly improve the visitor experience every day. With the construction of the gate, a number of football facilities had to be moved. The larger Oneida Nation Gate structure houses a relocated team dining area and player development area, and the adjacent new structure includes a new weight room, conditioning room and indoor area with FieldTurf. The players' parking lot also will be relocated to the south side of the Oneida Nation Gate in 2014.
Curly's Pub will remain open during most of the construction period, with a brief closure beginning in February 2015. The new restaurant will open in April 2015 in its new location on the first floor of the Atrium. Curly's Pub will have some modifications, however, beginning Dec. 2 with the closure of the games area and a subsequent closure of a section of the pub upon the conclusion of the 2013 season.
Lambeau Field events are still being booked and will continue during the construction. Visitors to the parking lot and Atrium will be aided by signage indicating the proper entrance to use.
Following is a timeline of the Atrium renovation components:
- Nov. 18: Packers Hall of Fame closes (new Hall to open April 2015)
- Dec. 2: Games area of Curly's Pub closes
- Conclusion of 2013 season: Miller Lite Gate and Harlan Plaza close (reopen in July 2014); construction of new east-side gate begins
- July 2014: New Pro Shop and east-side gate open, along with reopening of Miller Lite Gate and reconfigured Harlan Plaza; new Hall of Fame construction begins
- February 2015: Curly's Pub restaurant closes
- April 2015: New Packers Hall of Fame and new restaurant open
The Atrium project, with a cost of $140.5 million, is the final component of stadium renovation and expansion work that began in 2011 and included a new sound system, new video boards, two new gates (Bellin Health, Shopko) and approximately 7,000 new seats in the south end zone. Funding for the Atrium project is coming from the Packers through private financing ($85.5 million) and a loan from the NFL G4 program ($55 million). In total, including the south end zone and Atrium, the projects cost $286.5 million, with no funding coming from public tax money.
The renovation continues to provide an economic benefit to the community. Of the $20 million spent thus far on Atrium work, 97 percent has been spent with Wisconsin businesses, including 73 percent in Northeastern Wisconsin and 42 percent in Brown County. In total, this second phase is expected to employ approximately 1,500 workers over the next two years and provide more than $60 million in wages.
