While Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are busy in their offices with the beginning of the new league year, construction workers outside Lambeau Field are just as busy. They are building the Titletown District for the city of Green Bay and all its fans. The Titletown District will contain a bevy of features,including an ice skating rink, a sledding hill, an events plaza, a restaurant/brewery, a local park, an activity area, and luxury hotel.
The Packers have contributed $65 million to the project, while local businesses have covered the rest of the $125 million price tag. Plans for Phase I were first announced in early 2015, and construction began in the fall of 2015. The Titletown District hopes to bring in new visitors to Green Bay and upstart economic growth in the community. Lets take an in-depth look at each attraction.
An Update on Titletown
Hinterland
The Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery is a main attraction in Titletown. It has a large selection of craft and domestic beers. It will also host tours of the brewery, according to the website. The restaurant itself will have a variety of foods to choose from, such as steak, fish, and specialty pizza. Hinterland has been a staple in Green Bay for some time, and now will be featured just west of historic Lambeau Field.
Lodge Kohler
Green Bay is in desperate need for more lodging, and that is just what they will get. Lodge Kohler is an upscale hotel that will be within the Titletown Disctrict. According to the website, there will be 134 rooms and rates will start at $141.95 a night. Other accommodations will include a private grill on the fifth floor (which will overlook Lambeau Field) and a cafe on the ground floor.
Bellin Heath
Bellin Health Clinic will also be featured. It specializes in sports medicine and orthopedics.
The Park and Plaza
A ten acre public park will be built. It includes a sledding hill, NFL sized football field, a football themed play area, an ice skating rink, and a public plaza. In the offseason, it will be used for public events and festivals.
Plans for 2017 and Beyond
In a recent tweet, Ian Rapoport reported that he had talked to Mark Murphy, president of the Green Bay Packers, and learned that the Packers are in the mix to host the NFL Draft . The revenue brought in by NFL Draft attendees would immensely help the NFL’s smallest city, but there is one major obstacle: lodging concerns.
According to www.greenbay.com, the City of Green Bay only has 4,434 hotel rooms available, including Lodge Kohler. This would mean that the vast majority of fans would have to stay outside the city to attend the draft. Other cities within two hours of Green Bay area include Appleton, Oshkosh, and Milwaukee.
Phase II of Titletown will begin construction a couple years after Phase I is completed and is set to feature 70+ town homes and an apartment building. In a recent interview, Aaron Popkey, public relations for the Packers, said that people have already tried to put down their deposits for an apartment or townhouse. Other plans include more restaurants, more retailers, and a grocery store. As phase II gets closer, the Packers should release more information.
Green Bay is one of the most unique places in the United States and possibly the world. They are the smallest market in the NFL, and have one of the biggest fan-bases. In Green Bay, everything revolves around the Packers, an amazing thing in such a tight knit community. For the smallest team in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers and their fans deserve a place like Titletown.
