The Green Bay Packers say their June 16th ring ceremony at Lambeau Field will be a private event. Players, coaches and other members of the organization will get their rings in a private ceremony inside the Lambeau Field Atrium.
One Packers spokesman told the Green Bay Press Gazette, “We relied on past practices, but it’s intended to be a private event.”
Following the Packers Super Bowl victory after the 1996 season, the team held a private event at the Oneida Golf & Country Club in Green Bay. At that event, defensive end Reggie White and defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur met with the media to display the ring.
Images of the Super Bowl XLV ring will be available on the Packers’ website on the night of June 16. Super Bowl rings also will be displayed in the Packers Hall of Fame after the ring ceremony, according to the Packers.
The players and coaches give the fans credit all the time. The spirit and energy on display by Packers fans at games both home and on the road are enormous and it doesn’t go unnoticed by the players and coaches.
Yet in an offseason that has been filled with a lockout and fans have had little to no contact with players and coaches, they want more. Perhaps in another year, the ring ceremony could have been private and it would be no big deal. Afterall, it’s nice to have a few things private in an athletes life.
I just see this as being different. Fans felt a part of the organization last year. They helped push them through an improbable late season comeback, into the playoffs and on to a Super Bowl Championship.
Yes, they were treated to a Super Bowl celebration two days later at a frigid Lambeau Field. But the ring ceremony would cap things off for the fans. Maybe there could have been some compromise. Keep a portion of the ceremony private, but then parade the Packers out into the bowl of Lambeau to let the fans here it. They could ticket the ceremony and donate the money to charity.
Just my two cents. I think the fans at this time with the lockout in place deserve more. What do you think?