Rivalries: Divisional
Rivalries: Divisional
Rivalries: Divisional
Rivalries
Divisional
Chicago Bears
Main article: Bears–Packers rivalry
The Packers and Chicago Bears have been rivals since their team's inception in
1920, becoming one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the league's history.
The Packers currently lead the series 103–95–6,[148] and the teams have met twice in
the postseason. The Bears won the 1941 meeting, 33–14, and eventually defeated
the New York Giants in the 1941 NFL Championship Game, and the Packers won
the 2011 meeting, 21–14, en route to a Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh
Steelers. The teams' first meeting was a victory for the Bears (known as the Staleys
at the time) in 1921 in a shutout, 20–0. The Packers claimed their first win over the
Bears in 1925, 14–10. The 1924 matchup (which ended in a 3–0 win for Chicago)
was notable for featuring the first-ever ejection of players in a game in NFL history,
as Frank Hanny of the Bears and Walter Voss of the Packers were ejected for
punching each other.[149] The rivalry also featured one of the last successful fair catch
kicks in 1968, when Bears kicker Mac Percival kicked the game-winning field goal.[150]
Minnesota Vikings
Main article: Packers–Vikings rivalry
The rivalry between the Packers and Minnesota Vikings began in 1961, similar to
their other divisional rivalries. It is also considered to be one of the most intense
rivalries in the NFL, due to the intensity of most of the matchups over the years, As is
the case with many of their respective state's college teams sharing a rivalry;
(Minnesota and Wisconsin) have a rivalry in multiple sports, seen between the Big
Ten rivals, the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota. Events such
as Randy Moss mooning the Green Bay crowd in the first playoff game between
these two teams (won by the Vikings), and former Packer great Brett Favre's move
to the Vikings have created more resentment between these teams. The Packers
lead the all-time series 65–57–3, despite the two teams splitting their two playoff
contests.
Detroit Lions
Main article: Lions–Packers rivalry
The Packers' rivalry with the Detroit Lions has been another one of the oldest regular
matchups in the NFL. They first met in 1930 when the Lions were known as the
Portsmouth Spartans and based in Portsmouth, Ohio. The team eventually moved to
Detroit for the 1934 season. The Lions and Packers have been division rivals since
1933 and have always met at least twice a season since 1932, without any canceled
games between both rivals. The Packers lead the series 105–75–7 as of the end of
the 2022 season, the first time in NFL history that a team has recorded 100 wins
over an opponent.
Conference
Dallas Cowboys
Main article: Cowboys–Packers rivalry
The rivalry between the Packers and Dallas Cowboys has resulted in several notable
games in league history, including the "Ice Bowl" and other games impacting the
playoff race. The rivalry heated up during the 2010s, with several of their games
impacting the NFC playoff race during that decade. During the Brett Favre era in
Green Bay, the Cowboys dominated the rivalry, going 9–2 (including 9–0 in Dallas)
against the Packers when Favre was the quarterback. However, in the Aaron
Rodgers era from 2008 to 2022, the Packers have dominated the rivalry, as Rodgers
had an 8–2 record against the Cowboys with Green Bay, including a perfect 3–0
record in Dallas. The Packers lead the all-time series 22–17. The teams are tied 5–4
in the playoffs, with the last playoff match taking place in January 2024 at AT&T
Stadium in the Wild Card round with a 48–32 Packers win.
Seattle Seahawks
Main article: Packers–Seahawks rivalry
Following Seattle's relocation to the NFC in 2002, the Packers have faced
the Seattle Seahawks multiple times in the playoffs, developing an intense rivalry as
well. Some notable moments include the clubs' first playoff meeting in 2003 in which
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw a game-losing pick-six in overtime
after guaranteeing a game-winning drive,[153] the Fail Mary, and Russell
Wilson overcoming four interceptions and a 16–0 Packers lead to lead Seattle to a
28–22 overtime win to advance to Super Bowl XLIX.[154]
Stadium history
See also: List of Green Bay Packers stadiums and Green Bay Packers home games
in Milwaukee
By the 1950s, the wooden 25,000-seat arena was considered outmoded.[157] The NFL
threatened to move the franchise to Milwaukee full-time unless it got a better
stadium.[158] The city responded by building a new 32,150 seat City Stadium for the
team, the first built exclusively for an NFL team, which opened in time for the 1957
season.[159] It was renamed Lambeau Field in 1965 to honor Curly Lambeau, who had
died earlier in the year.[160]
Expanded seven times before the end of the 1990s, Lambeau Field capacity
reached 60,890. In 2003, it was extensively renovated to expand seating, modernize
stadium facilities, and add an atrium area. Even with a current seating capacity of
72,928, ticket demand far outpaces supply, as all Packers games have been sold out
since 1960. About 86,000 names are on the waiting list for season tickets. [122]
The Packers played part of their home slate in Milwaukee starting in 1933, including
two to three home games each year in Milwaukee's County Stadium from 1953 to
1994. Indeed, County Stadium had been built partly to entice the Packers to move to
Milwaukee full-time. The Packers worked to capture their growing fan base in
Milwaukee and the larger crowds. By the 1960s, the threat of an American Football
League franchise in Milwaukee prompted the Packers to stay, including scheduling
a Western Conference Playoff in 1967.
County Stadium was built primarily as a baseball stadium and made only the bare
minimum adjustments to accommodate football. At its height, it only seated 56,000
people, just barely above the NFL minimum; many of those seats were badly
obstructed. The field was just barely large enough to fit a football field. Both teams
shared the same sideline (separated by a piece of tape) and the end zones extended
onto the warning track. By 1994, improvements and seating expansions at Lambeau,
along with the Brewers preparing to campaign for their new stadium prompted the
Packers to play their full slate in Green Bay for the first time in 62 years. Former
season ticketholders for the Milwaukee package continue to receive preference for
one pre-season and the second and fifth regular-season games at Lambeau Field
each season, along with playoff games through a lottery under the "Gold Package"
plan.[161]
The Packers have three practice facilities across the street from Lambeau Field
in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin: the Don Hutson Center, an indoor facility; Ray Nitschke
Field, an outdoor field with artificial FieldTurf; and Clarke Hinkle Field, an outdoor
field with natural grass.
The Packers Pro Shop has been the official retail store of the Packers since 1989.
The primary retail store is located at Lambeau Field, having been expanded
numerous times since it opened. The Pro Shop reported sales of over $7 million in
2015.[162][163]