STOPS PLANNED IN FOND DU LAC, JANESVILLE, STEVENS POINT, MARINETTE; MURPHY, HARLAN, JACKSON, JONES, SPITZ ON THE ROAD
The Packers Friday announced plans for the third 'Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour,' set for July 8-11, 2008, setting out across the state to thank fans in person for their enduring and enthusiastic support of the club through the years.
The traveling group will include Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy and Chairman Emeritus Bob Harlan, as well as players Brandon Jackson, James Jones and Jason Spitz.
The tour will take place aboard a customized motor coach emblazoned with the logo "Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour" and the phrase "Touching Down in Your Community." The tour will make stops in Fond du Lac (July 8) Janesville (July 9), Stevens Point (July 10) and Marinette (July 11).
The motor coach will make one scheduled stop during the day at a site to be determined in each area. At the visit, tour members will have the opportunity to interact with fans and deliver the message of "thanks." In addition to the planned stops, surprise stops will be made as the schedule allows.
Culminating the day's activities during the 'Tailgate Tour' will be an evening tailgate party in each city from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with a flavor of famous Lambeau Field tailgating, hosted by a local non-profit organization. The parties will feature food and mingling with the Packers representatives. At each tailgate party, footballs autographed by each tour member will be given away as door prizes. Tailgate party tickets will cost $25, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the hosting organization.
"The group is very excited about the tour," said Murphy. "This is my first tour, of course, and I'm really looking forward to meeting Packers fans around the state. I've heard wonderful stories about the last two tours, so I know we've got a lot of great visits ahead."
'Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour' evening tailgate party locations and ticket information are as follows (6 to 8:30 p.m. in each city):
Fond du Lac: Fond du Lac High School, July 8. To benefit Salvation Army. Tickets on sale beginning at 8 a.m., June 14, 2008, at Festival Foods. Purchase/information: Denise Shaffer (920/923-8220).
Janesville: Janesville Gazette Printing Plant, July 9. To benefit ECHO (Everyone Cooperating to Help Others). Tickets on sale beginning at 9 a.m., May 27, 2008, at ECHO. Purchase/information: Karen Lisser (608/754-5333).
Stevens Point: Stevens Point Country Club, July 10. To benefit Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin. Tickets on sale beginning at 8 a.m., June 10 at Epilepsy Foundation & Trig's County Market in Stevens Point. Purchase/information: Cindy Piotrowski (715/341-5811).
Marinette: Marinette High School, July 11. To benefit the Marinette & Menominee Counties service area of the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter. Tickets on sale beginning at 8 a.m., June 2 at Angeli's County Market (Marinette & Menominee locations), American Red Cross, Witt's Piggly Wiggly/True Value in Crivitz and Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce (Marinette location). Purchase/information: Debbie Haduch (715/735-6062).
Fans interested in 'Tailgate Tour' details are encouraged to visit www.packers.com often as information will be updated as the dates near. Fans can track each day's progress of the tour as well, with a Web blog and photo galleries posted daily. A Web blog and photo galleries of last year's tour also are available online.
