GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are headed in opposite directions — the Packers to the playoffs, the Bears to a long offseason.
However, it’s a rivalry game and you never know what can happen, even though the Packers are 11-5 and the Bears are 4-12.
Here’s what to look for this week:
What is the weather forecast for Sunday?
The early forecast from the National Weather Service Green Bay calls for a partly sunny day with a high near 21 and a low Sunday night of 13. In other words, pretty typical for January in Green Bay.
More: How cold will it be for Sunday’s Packers-Bears game at Lambeau Field? Here’s the forecast
What are secondary-market ticket prices for this game?
The average get-in price for the Bears game is $31 less than last week, helped in part by the Bears’ pretty awful performance the last four games. Still, it’s a rivalry game, so the price is just above the highest-priced seats in the Lambeau Field bowl.
As of Monday:
-
Face-price range: $132-$175
-
Average lowest-cost seat: $176
-
Average lowest-cost seat Dec. 24: $207
-
Range of lowest-cost seats: $119-$258
-
Bears last week: Seattle Seahawks 6, Bears 3
-
The Bears are 4-12
What time do parking lots and the stadium open?
Stadium parking lots open at 8 a.m. Access to the stadium bowl is available at 10 a.m.
Entrance to the Lambeau Field Atrium and Packers Pro Shop is available from 8 a.m. through the American Family Insurance gate. Other gates open at 10 a.m. The Packers Pro Shop and Lambeau Field Atrium are open to ticketed fans only. There is no exit/re-entry for noon and 3:25 p.m. games.
Parking available in neighborhoods around Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field parking lots are full with season ticket holders and people working the game. Parking is available on streets, in yards and in commercial lots surrounding Lambeau Field. Yard and lot parking prices range from $60 near the stadium to $20 some blocks away.
Free street parking is available to those who get there early or are willing to walk. Most of the street parking is available on the Green Bay side of the stadium, that is, north of Lombardi Avenue, although some is available south and southwest of the stadium in Ashwaubenon, which has restrictions on streets nearer Lambeau.
Green Bay Metro offers free shuttle service
You can catch a city bus to the game.
Green Bay Metro offers four free shuttle routes, with buses leaving to and from Lambeau on the half-hour from 8-11 a.m. and again from the end of the game to 4:30 p.m. for noon games. Routes to Lambeau Field run from Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, downtown Green Bay, the far east side of Green Bay and downtown De Pere.
Titletown hosts Gameday Live activities and music
Four hours before each Packers home game, the Titletown District hosts Gameday Live festivities, including music, a Q&A and meet-and-greets with Packers alumni, giant tailgate games, mural painting, a postcard-sending station and food and drink.
Milwaukee-based DJay Mando returns for the second straight home game, performing from 8-11:30 a.m. Sunday on the Hy-Vee Plaza stage at Titletown. DJay Mando performed a long set on June 3, 2023, outside Lambeau when headliner Flo Rida was late because of flight delays. He also opened for Bebe Rexha on June 1 as part of the Titletown District’s Summer Fun Days Showcase.
The Titletown parking lot off Lombardi Avenue will be open for paid parking ($50), but tailgating is not allowed in the lot. Carry-in coolers, glass bottles and portable grills are also not allowed in the park. Like Lambeau, Titletown is cashless.
Who will perform the national anthem?
Actor Craig T. Nelson will sing the national anthem. Nelson stars in the upcoming film “Green and Gold,” which is the story of a fourth-generation Wisconsin dairy farmer who bets everything on the Packers to win the Super Bowl. The film is expected in theaters Jan. 31.
Lambeau Field considered among best stadiums in the NFL
Lambeau Field ranks either first or second as the NFL’s best stadium in two USA TODAY features, one by individual writers with experience at stadiums, and the other a poll of six sportswriters.
The individual writer ranked Lambeau No. 1 in the league, saying, “Lambeau Field remains every bit the old school experience you want it to be, rising from the suburban grid of Green Bay to welcome NFL pilgrims to its hallowed grounds. Between the history of the Hall of Fame and the frigid aluminum bench seats that freeze your Leinenkugel’s in the can each December, it’s perfect roughneck football.”
The six USA TODAY sportswriters ranked Lambeau No. 2.
“It’s not only the stadium and all the history that’s occurred there that make Lambeau so special, it’s what surrounds it. For those not fortunate enough to have been there, it’s set in the middle of a neighborhood. Literally. There are people for whom Lambeau is their backyard. They will let you park in their driveway or on their lawn, and they will do this for a ridiculously low fee. Offer you a bratwurst and the use of their bathroom while they’re at it. It’s the perfect blend of quaint, old-word charm and modern glitz, and there is nothing else in the NFL like it,” wrote USA TODAY columnist Nancy Armour.
Game will be broadcast on Fox
Fox Sports will broadcast the game. Kevin Kugler will handle play by play and he’ll be joined by analyst Daryl Johnston and sideline reporter Laura Okmin. You can also watch the game on NFL Sunday Ticket by YouTube.
In the map below from 506Sports.com, green is Chicago at Green Bay, red is New Orleans at Tampa Bay, blue is Washington at Dallas, yellow is Jacksonville at Indianapolis.
It is also available on Packers Radio Network
Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game, WRNW-Milwaukee, is the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a full listing of radio affiliates, visit packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) are in their 26th season of calling the action together.
Packers.com will stream the team’s radio broadcast worldwide to desktop users. The Packers mobile app also will stream the radio broadcast within the Packers’ home market, per NFL broadcast restrictions. The broadcast will start with the pre-game show at 10:05 a.m. Central Time.
Nationally, Sports USA Radio will broadcast the game. Josh Appel is on play by play and James White is the analyst.
Chicago metro area 29 times bigger than Green Bay metro area
Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, with a metro area population of 328,268, compared to Chicago, which has a metro area population of 9.5 million.
(This story was updated to provide additional information)
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Packers, Bears meet in season finale. Here’s what you need to know
