Packers Blog Roundup: Family Night Has Lowest Attendance In More Than a Decade
By Brian Carriveau on Aug 08, 2011 with 6 Comments
The decline in attendance at the Packers’ annual Family Night scrimmage is scrutinized by Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, who acknowledges the impact the NFL lockout had on the event. “That’s understandable, but the organization should have taken that into account when pricing the event,” writes Vandermause. “No tackling means the fans weren’t getting as much for their money. Thus, ticket costs should have been reduced accordingly.” Many of Vandermause’s criticisms and suggestions are fair. I’m personally willing to chalk this year’s low attendance up to a the small amount of time people had to plan due to the NFL lockout and a poor economy. If next year’s edition includes tackling once again, I expect an increase.
The relative worth of kicker Mason Crosby is examined in-depth by Al Bracco of AllGreenBayPackers.com. “I don’t come to bury Mason Crosby, I merely would like to put an end to the polluted mindset that praises him without a real reason to do so,” writes Bracco, stealing a line from head coach Mike McCarthy. “If you like Crosby because he’s a good guy, that’s fine. If you like Crosby because he signed your favorite jersey… well that’s fine also. But just don’t gloss over the truth and make up excuses for his performance. They don’t wash. The numbers… don’t lie.” The statistical analysis makes this an article worth reading, and Bracco comes away with a very convincing case.
Second-year running back James Starks found a staunch supporter at Green Bay Packer Talk. “After watching a few of the Packer’s practices and a limited Packers Family Night, it appears that James Starks is miles ahead of Ryan Grant right now at the running back position,” writes Michael Goodman. “Starks right now seems to be hitting the holes better, and works better out of the screen that Grant right now.”
Undrafted rookie cornerback Brandian Ross gets some attention at Acme Packing Company after his pick-six of Aaron Rodgers in Saturday’s Family Night scrimmage. “With all the players returning in the secondary, plus the fourth round pick used on CB Davon House, there is little room for Ross on the active roster,” writes Brandon Benson. “But, as I wrote about when he signed with the Packers, there should be room for him on the practice squad. Especially if he keeps this up.”
Discussion on undrafted rookie fullback Jon Hoese appears at Packer Update. “So does Hoese have any chance to make the final 53?” writes Michael Rodney. “It’s unlikely, but not impossible. While newly-signed John Kuhn is a lock to be the starting fullback, Quinn Johnson’s hold on a roster spot is hardly secure. The third-year player from LSU has been a mild disappointment since being selected in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and he certainly didn’t help his cause by arriving at training camp looking more like a small offensive lineman than a big fullback.”
Thoughts on Saturday’s Family Night scrimmage appear at AllGreenBayPackers.com, Packer Fans United and Lombardi Ave.
Polls on who should win the starting jobs at strong safety and left guard appear at Acme Packing Company.
Listen to the Packers Therapy podcast at Packer Chatters.
Video of Charles Woodson is posted at the Packers Lounge.
Former Packers running back Ahman Green’s retirement elicited a response at Lombardi Ave.
A training camp column is written at AllGreenBayPackers.com.
A picture of Don McIlhenny can be seen at Packerville, U.S.A.
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.
Second-hand news sources are not included in the blog roundup unless they also include meaningful commentary.
Filed Under: Packers Blogs • Packers News
Wow real football talk I LOVE it.
As Wilde put it yesterday, Starks has to show he can run over people so that he can make explosive gains. The crowning of Starks over Grant is a little pre-mature.
The product on the field changed, but the costs of hosting the Packers’ Family Night did not. Fireworks, employee costs, etc. did not go down becuse of the lockout. And don’t discount the cost of the fireworks. They ain’t cheap.
Family night may not be enough of a draw to get people to travel far. Now if “family night” came to the population base…Soldier Field perhaps… I think the draw would be greater. Actually- Milwaukee would be cool
Yeah attendance is down, but 43,000+ is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t think location is the issue.
For that matter, there’s nowhere in Milwaukee to hold Family Night. Miller Park is not at all equipped for football, and the Packers would have to vie with the Brewers for scheduling.
As for your Soldier Field suggestion… lolwut???? Why would the Packers hold a family night scrimmage over 200 miles away – in the Chicago Bear’s home stadium no less?
I took my son to family night last year. I live about 4 hours from Green Bay. It was nice and my son enjoyed it but it is definitely not something we would do every year or even every couple years. It’s basically a practice with some entertainment mixed throughout and that is just not something I am going to spend 8 hours in a car for very often.
which is certainly understandable.