Green Bay Cold Threatens to Outfreeze NFL Ice Bowl Record

[Purveyor]

By Mason Levinson - Jan 3, 2014

The Green Bay Packers may be about to host the coldest game in National Football League history, eclipsing their own record set during the 1967 game known as the Ice Bowl.

The coldest air in 18 years might arrive in Wisconsin the night before the Jan. 5 first-round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field, according to Cameron Moreland, chief meteorologist at TV channel NBC 26 in Green Bay. The forecast was a factor in slow ticket sales, according to resellers.

If an Arctic blast reaches the city before the 3:40 p.m. local time kickoff, the temperature will rival that of the Dec. 31, 1967, NFL Championship game between the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, which started at the same stadium with the temperature at -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 Celsius), Moreland said. It felt like -48 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill for that game, which Green Bay won 21-17.

“The big question is which one of those computer forecast models are correct,” Moreland said in a telephone interview. “It’s a difference between a cold game and a historically cold game.”

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-03/green-bay-cold-threatens-to-outfreeze-1967-nfl-ice-bowl-record.html

[BuddhaGirl]

1. GO NINERS!!!

[Blue Owl]

22. Might be a game for the -49ers

My money's on Green Bay -- you guys got the big win last year!

Should be an exciting game regardless!

[gopiscrap]

2. Wow. I was at a Packer Game in November of 1976

I working for the Lutheran Church and singing at Peace Lutheran in Green Bay. Some folks who were in the congregation couldn't go that Sunday and they were kind enough to give us their tickets. Being from Frankfurt, Germany and Tacoma, Washington I was used to a pretty moderate climate. I had never felt such cold before. It was astonishing. It's gonna be important for folks to use their heads and think about personal safety. Dress warmly, lay off the alcohol and if you feel like you're getting too cold, get outa there! It's only a game! Your limbs will thank you for it!

[Packerowner740]

21. I've been to a Packer game that was the other extreme

Arizona, 108 outdoors in August. I don't know how the players did it.

[blueamy66]

47. I was there with 2 Packer fans...one flew in for the game

The win was sweet!

[Greybnk48]

37. If it was a Packer/Bear game I was there too.

It was as cold or colder than the ice bowl! They said the Packer band couldn't play for the first time ever because their instruments were sticking to their lips. Some poor slob came out at half time and tried to juggle swords, LOL! After a minute or two he gave up thankfully.

I set a glass of beer on the ground to fix up my sleeping bag that I was wearing over a snowmobile suit and when I reached back down to get it, it was frozen! I didn't bother with any more ( I didn't want to have to pee anyway). I got a bit of a wind burn on my cheeks and they had been covered by a scarf. It was brutal.

Why go? The tickets were free from our employer (who was not dumb enough to go) and we were young so off we went.

[gopiscrap]

54. Yup it was a Packer Game!!!

I was 18 at the time and didn't care how cold it was. It was the first major league game of any sports that I ever I got to see in person. (I had only been in the US five years) There was no way I wasn't going to go. Now at my age, fuck that...I'll watch it in the warmth and comfort of my own home.

[NightWatcher]

3. They invented domed stadiums for a reason, cheeseheads

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. ...to make football boring as hell...

[Purveyor]

8. I agree. Football was made to be played in the open air.

[Packerowner740]

19. I agree

[Blue Owl]

23. Worked so well for the Vikings

[BeyondGeography]

26. Fuck domes

[NightWatcher]

29. you cant fuck anything when it's that cold

Good luck finding your junk in that weather

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. Global warming, huh?

Doing my best impersonation of a mindless conservative fuck.

[Baclava]

5. They don’t call it the frozen tundra for nothing.

San Fran players better bring their mittens

[Vashta Nerada]

7. I couldn't care less if a bunch of millionaires had to play out in freezing temps.

My sympathies are used up elsewhere.

[AgingAmerican]

15. Football is epic

....and as such has my full sympathy, especially for the fans that are at the game...the players have heaters and stuff.

[LanternWaste]

34. If not the time taken to inform us.

"My sympathies are used up elsewhere..."

If not the time taken to inform us.

[ronnie624]

43. I didn't see the word "time" in that post.

There are few things I find more repellent than football , but this news item is interesting.

[Scuba]

9. The interior concourse and bathrooms will be very warm at Lambeau, and Packer fans ....

... in their seats will be squished together, sharing body heat with their newest best friends. If they get too cold, they can walk into the concourse and warm themselves.

Players, coaches, officials, chain-gang members, ball boys, security, photographers and others are at far greater risk. Fortunately, they're pros and know how to take care of themselves.

Several players from both Dallas and Green Bay suffered frostbite during the Ice Bowl. I don't see that recurring.

[PeaceNikki]

11. They also have huge jet heaters on he field.

[forthemiddle]

48. The field also has heating coils running underneath it.

For the fans it might be another "Ice Bowl" but for the players, technology is MUCH improved over 1967.

Having said that, it still is going to be awful cold, and I am not sure that the Packers have that much of an advantage. Let's face it, none of the players grew up in this weather, and NONE of them have ever played in this cold of weather.
There is a huge difference in single digits, and -47 degrees with windchill.

I will be home in my mid Wisconsin home, in front of my 60 inch TV, with a micro brew in hand yelling "GO 49ers!!!!!!"

[PeaceNikki]

10. Imma be there.

[Cali_Democrat]

40. Be safe!

[irisblue]

52. could you liveblog it for the rest of us?

If your fingers don't fall off in the cold

[PeaceNikki]

12. I was also at the third coldest in NFL history.

We're strong like bull.

[BobUp]

13. Brutal

[Gman]

14. Yeah well, they won because Jerry Kramer was offsides

That day lives in infamy.

[Scuba]

16. Still whining after all these years.

Talk to Colts fans about Don Chandler's field goal.

[Gman]

24. It was a significant emotional event for a 13 YO

My first experience with utter disappointment. I still don't like Bart Starr.

[Greybnk48]

45. I don't like Bart Starr either.

But for other reasons. Sorry about the game

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

46. Ok, I need to know, why?

Unless it's too personal, I can't imagine a Pack fan hating Bart Starr.

[Greybnk48]

50. No, not personal, just judgmental.

I don't hate him, and we support his Rawhide Foundation and have donated several cars.

He is a super right-winger who has campaigned outside of Lambeau in the parking lot several times over the years most recently for Romney.

He's also an evangelical Christian and talks Godie God talk often during interviews, yet routinely supports the most vile, right wing, mean spirited asshole politicians out there. Romney was nothing new.

In person I find him to be a cold fish. Caveat: I don't know the guy; I've met him twice around town. He just seems very polite and very cold, like Charlton Heston.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

51. Yeah, I kinda figured he was that way

It's things like that is why I try not to find out too much about Dan Marino.

[ScreamingMeemie]

55. He's not like that at all... (the Charlton Heston thing)

and his wife Cherry was the sweetest woman I have ever been lucky to spend a half hour talking with. She's hilarious and fun.

He seems to be a bit socially awkward and he is a right-winger, but I am able to separate people from politics.

I am a diehard Packer fan and used to battle my father all the time over who was better-- Farvre or Starr. My dad was right.

[Gman]

53. It's not like I hold a grudge or something

But its only been 46 years.

[Greybnk48]

38. Oh FFS! Get over it!

edited to add: Ignore my snark; your were 13. I'd still be pissed too!

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. My father, at the ripe old age of 69, still refuses to get over the Lions ruining

the Packers perfect season in 1962.

And, on edit, I refuse to get over the 1998 playoffs. Stupid San Francisco and that stupid noncall on a freaking fumble.

[Greybnk48]

44. LOL! Well, I'm 65 and I still hate Fran Tarkenton!

Just on general principle. Kaepernick reminds me of him so I seethe during 49'er games.

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. I cannot, cannot, CANNOT stand Kaepernick...

Also, their "coach" is extremely unlikable in person.

[Greybnk48]

66. Amen to both!! n/t

[madinmaryland]

61. I am still amused by the Vikings losing four Super Bowls, but my best memory is this...

Loved it!!!

[ScootersPixiePie]

17. go pack go

It was great sitting in my Chicago area home watching the Pack come into the bear den and spank em. San Francisco -- bu-bye!!

[FrodosPet]

18. Go with the European model?

I've read that it is slower and more expensive, but supposedly more accurate.

[lpbk2713]

20. That's fuggen inhumane

Look for broken fingers and toes. They will get brittle
in temps like that even with gloves and thick socks.

[CFLDem]

28. As long they're Packer fingers and toes

that'll be alright with me

[PeaceNikki]

30. Good luck in the playoffs, Bears!!

Oh, wait.....

?w=800&h=500

[CFLDem]

31. Yeah yeah yeah

as the cubs like to say: there's always next year.

[PeaceNikki]

32. Jay Cutler signed a 7-yr contract extension with the Bears.

In related news, the Packers will make the playoffs the next 7 years!

I lived in Chicago burbs for many years so I know a lot of youse.

[CFLDem]

33. Thanks for reminding me

[PeaceNikki]

35. Chicago is as apathetic about QB's as we are dependent upon.

It's weird!

It's a fun rivalry, though and I adore my flat-lander friends despite their horrible taste in football teams.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Hey...at least you're not as bad off as the Lions. They had the division

handed to them this year and they still didn't want it.

[forthemiddle]

49. And the Vikings!

[warrior1]

25. here's hoping the packers take the game

as well as the Saints taking out the eagles.

[benld74]

27. "From the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[madinmaryland]

39. My question is how will the Peckers from Green Bay stay warm???

[DemocraticWing]

42. GO PACK GO!

I don't care how cold it is, as long as Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb, and Nelson burn up the 49ers D!

[customerserviceguy]

57. Colin Kaepernick

is going to wish he'd gone for the insulated tattoos instead!

[Comrade Grumpy]

58. Latest weather forecasts say zero at game time.

The insane cold will come a few hours later. Monday is supposed to have a high of -8.

[Omaha Steve]

59. My Ice Bowl memory

Ice Bowl video at the bottom of this post.

For the record, Marta got me one share of Packer stock for Christmas a couple years ago.

The one gift I wanted for Christmas in 1967 was a mini-bike. That was all I asked for over and over. It was my Red Ryder obsession. Like the Red Ryder "shoot your eye out", mom was afraid I'd break my neck. Christmas morning 1967 I couldn't wait to get to the tree.

I was one month short of being 11 years old. The wrapping didn't look big enough to be a mini-bike. The BIG moment. Tear off the paper. I discovered a 19 inch black and white TV on a portable stand. The thrill of victory and agony of defeat in the same moment. While I was let down a bit about no bike, it hit me NONE of my friends had their own TV in their own room.

On Dec 31st of 1967 I didn't go to grandpa's house (the Pack was his team) two homes away to watch the Pack with him in color. I stayed home in my room and watch the "Ice Bowl" in my warm room.

About 1996 I was telling this story to a co-worker. She said her husband and a friend of his had gone to that game. I was so jealous.

And now you know my Ice Bowl story. GO PACK GO!!!

My son and I at Arrowhead Stadium two years ago for the packer game.



Ice Bowl video:

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. My father's Ice Bowl story?

His parents-in-law talked him in to driving up to Ettrick to visit "the folks."

Anyone who know Ettrick, WI, knows that "the folks" are pretty much the only population that Ettrick had in 1967.

He ran to the gas station to get milk for my great grandmother (I was yet to be born but my brother was 5 months old). The car's battery died a frozen death. My father sat in the warm shop office hooting and hollering with the attendant. To his credit he did call, but didn't deal with the issue until after the famous Wedge--lying (sort of) and saying they were having "issues." Apparently, no one spoke to him the entire drive home. My mother's family was farm people who didn't take much to football and other foolery at the time.

My brother and my nephew at that ill-fated playoff game in Arizona:




On the positive, they got to sit with Clay Matthews' family (that's who took the picture - I believe it was his mom).

We bought my dad stock for Christmas when they opened it back up in the 90s for the first renovation. He votes on every ballot. He, however, does not cotton to the fact that my brother blew $500 on a Stockholder Super Bowl ring back in 2011.

[Omaha Steve]

62. Ya I got a ring too the year after Marta got me the share

I believe they are out of production.

http://packersuniforms.blogspot.com/2011/06/2010-shareholder-ring.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

63. I don't know because I didn't have that kind cash laying around

Here's my nephew:

[Omaha Steve]

64. Me too

It was my Christmas present and I got a cheaper version than his.

[BobUp]

65. Packers........Yeah TOAST!

Must have been too warm.