Fan Fest Fail

The Packers cancelling Fan Fest is an epic fail.

For the second straight year, the late winter in Green Bay will be a little quieter for Packers fans.

When it was announced that the Packers were going to cancel Fan Fest, I was admittedly upset. The two and a half day event that Fan Fest had evolved into was a great way to celebrate the success of the Packers, as well as gather fans from across the globe. The connection of the team with its rabid fan base was never stronger than during Fan Fest. Yet once again, fans are left to wonder why this is not taking place.

The official release from the team is vague at best in explaining its reason for cancelling the event:

The Packers are forgoing Fan Fest for 2012, and will continue to evaluate the event. Our goal is to enhance the event by examining its structure, programming elements and fan feedback. We also will be looking at the time of year for the event. The event’s future is undecided at this time.

The organization has enjoyed hosting the event during its six-year run and appreciates the interest and support of the thousands of fans who have attended.

It's an reason. It's not a great reason, but it's the reason fans will have to live with for another year.

The question I have to ask is how much time is needed to examine the structure, elements, and fan feedback to provide a satisfactory fan fest.

When Fan Fest was cancelled in 2011, it actually made some sense. The Packers were coming off their Super Bowl victory, so the schedules of the executive level, coaching staff, and players had been pushed back several weeks. The NFL was preparing to start its lockout, which would have prevented player access to Lambeau Field. And of course, money played a part in the decision:

There will be no Packers Fan Fest in 2011. The NFLs labor problems and a decline in ticket sales have prompted the Packers to pass on putting it together for next year.

Here lies the problem. A year later, and the Packers have yet to fix the problems that supposedly surrounded the event. That is a major fail on their part.

The biggest issue I have with the cancellation of the event is the timing. Fans never had the opportunity to thank their team for their Super Bowl win last year, in part due to the lockout. The Packers were coming off a 15-1 regular season this year, coupled with a disappointing first round loss in the playoffs. What better time for fans to be able to say thank you, as well as allow the team to do a little PR work to compensate for the early exit in the playoffs this year. Makes sense, right?

Of course, this is the same marketing department that allowed this snafu to go public before its scheduled release date, so maybe we should not be surprised they dropped the ball on Fan Fest-again.

What I do hope is that the team does not become complacent in dealing with their fans. While I do not think this will happen, the cancelling of the event did cause me to ask this question:

Is canceling Fan Fest a sign that the Packers are overconfident in their fan base? That they're good enough to not have to do this?

Let's hope this is not the case.

Was Fan Fest perfect? Far from it. Was it too expensive for the program it offered? A little bit. Was it too stretched out over two and a half days? Yes. And was it crawling with autograph hounds who were more interested in a black sharpie hitting the gold of a helmet than the actual player signing it? Yes. But Fan Fest was also a fantastic place to bond with fellow fans, as well as meet a few legends and hear them talk. That is what I will miss again this year, the connection with the Packers family on all levels.

Maybe next year I'll get the opportunity to thank the Packers for everything they mean to me.

 

 

 

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Comments (4)

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Bishop's picture

January 29, 2012 at 09:25 am

I think I read somewhere either at JS or the Packers homepage that due to the new CBA, offseason activities (even those pertaining to non-football activities) aren't allowed til much later in the year to allow players more time from the team.

I'm curious how many other teams have these events, if any. I never went and never had any interest.

I think it's pretty laughable to say "what better time for the fans to say thank you" for the Super Bowl win and the 15-1 year by paying for an event to say so. I guess only the most die-hard or cash indifferent fan would pay to say "thank you" to players, who I think for the most part, generally don't care about our opinion.

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JohnRehor's picture

January 29, 2012 at 09:36 am

Part of the new CBA is players are not allowed to be brought in for team activities until mid April. And having a successful team on the field is more important than having a fan convention, so I understand this reason for the cancelling of the event.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120128/GPG0101/201280630/

As for your finding my opinion laughable that I would pay to meet and greet players and members of the organization I love, that is your right. So feel free to call me "die-hard or cash indifferent" all you want. I have gone before, and would go again. That is my right.

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Bishop's picture

January 29, 2012 at 09:48 am

Sure, that's your right and I understand your frustration about it being canceled.

Is it any coincidence though that not only was Fan Fest attendance falling, but so was the Family Night Scrimmage? I know there has been some terrible luck that the last 2-3 were delayed due to weather, but I wouldn't totally write off the notion that fans just aren't as die hard anymore or that they're willing to spend their money on such activities.

Now, the Scrimmage won't get canceled cause it brings in buko $ but fan Fest likely doesn't. If FN starts dropping below 20k though, I think that may go Buh bye

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JohnRehor's picture

January 29, 2012 at 10:06 am

Agree about Family Night. Attendance continues to decrease, partially because people have figured out they are paying to see a scrimmage, which they can see for free across the street at Nitschke Field.

The bigger picture here is the Packers are losing some connection with their fans. Cancelling Fan Fest, not having a proper Draft Party, and decreased attendance at Family Night all show that fans are choosing to do something else than go to Green Bay and support the Packers.

Are there reasons behind this? Sure there. The economy has been in the toilet for several years, and money can be better spent than on Packers events. Fan Fest is expensive, without question. The NFL Draft expanded to three days instead of two, and begins on a Thursday. This makes a proper draft party almost impossible. And for several years, the weather played havoc with family night, causing some not to attend. But the underlying issue is people were choosing not to go, and the Packers have not made the necessary adjustments to these events to make them a "must" for fans to attend. They need to figure out what the issues are, and reconnect with their fans with regards to these events

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