GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — It’s the calm before the storm at Lambeau Field. In a few days the empty car parks will be filled with hooker football fans for the big Manchester City v Bayern Munich football game. But the events of the summer do not stop there.
Between the EAA, Packers training camp, Kitsune Kon and Greta Van Fleet all next week, the companies are expecting a big rush, and that includes places just across the street from Kroll’s West.
“We’re treating it exactly like a Game Packer, so we’re hiring everyone we can, making, you know, extra food…” said Megan Huisman, Kroll’s West General Manager. “It’s usually late spring when we start to slow down…I think it’s really going to be the start of a very busy fall season.”
Green Bay hasn’t seen a cluster of events like these since before the pandemic. All of this is compared to the period between 2017 and 2019, when Titletown brought in big name artists, like Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Kenny Chesney. All of these events led up to training camp.
Nick Meisner is the Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Discover Green Bay. He sees these events as a return to normal, rather than making up for things missing during the pandemic.
“Personally, I feel like it was such a long time ago that we don’t really remember the normal pace of our busy season here in Green Bay,” Meisner said. “But it’s something we hope to maintain as we move forward.”
Other small restaurants feed on match days and major events to attract new clientele.
“Tourism is definitely picking up, that’s what we’re seeing this summer, of which more than half of our business right now is just people from out of town,” said Booyah Shed co-owner Daniel Nitka. .
The Ashland Avenue food joint said events like these in Titletown in the past have resulted in about a 25% increase in their sales. They’re not betting on outrageous profits, but knowing that this will ultimately attract new Booyah fans.
“We can’t wait for anything, we never expect anything, you know, you try to plan the best…my goal is never short of anything,” Nitka said.
