Packer Fan Tours In the News
Packer Fan Tours Goes the Extra Yard
Inside 1265Packer Fan Tours of Green Bay prides itself on being the only Official Tour Company in the history of the Green Bay Packers, but, while booking fans for games home and on the road, it also strives to give them more than the simple transportation and lodging other NFL tour providers offer.
“Besides Game Tours and Packages, we do the extremely popular Packer Cruise, of course, but we also help people with large group and special occasion celebrations at Packers games all the time,” said Dennis Garrity, president of Packer Fan Tours.
A good illustration of these efforts occurred in November when Packer Fan Tours witnessed what Garrity termed a “hat trick” of marital bliss before 3,000 fans at the tailgate party the company co-produces with Brett Favre at Favre’s local Steakhouse.
“We had a honeymooning couple, another fan make a public marriage proposal and two wonderful fans get married at our tailgate party as part of our packages for the Pittsburgh Steelers game,” said Garrity. “It’s a lot of fun to help these Packer-crazy folks celebrate special moments in their lives around the team.”
Brad and Tannis Diesen were married at a tailgate party they will not soon forget.
“It was the most memorable experience of our lives to have our wedding celebration at the tailgate party and to have had an opportunity to see a Packers game … Tundra Lodge was a wonderful place to stay and we recommend anyone going a Packers game for the first time to take the MVP package. Well worth it!” wrote the newly married couple in a letter to Fan Tours.
The MVP package includes game tickets, two nights at the Tundra Lodge, tailgate party, special souvenirs, Hall of Fame admission, waterpark passes, game and airport transfers, and an exclusive player photo and autograph session at an hors d’oeuvres and cocktail reception.
“People expect a superb experience from the Official Tour Company of the Green Bay Packers and that’s exactly what we deliver,” said Garrity. “I don’t know of any other NFL team that offers tour like ours where you can and interact with active players in an intimate setting just before a game.”
Packer Fan Tours offers a number of special activities for pans purchasing packages to the 2005 holiday games schedule for Christmas (versus Bears) and New Year’s Day (versus Seahawks). A pep rally and tailgate party are scheduled at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse featuring holiday drinks, cookies, Christmas decorations, visits from “Packer Santa”, prizes and a tailgate menu of brats, burgers, Favre-family Jambalaya, salads, and desserts. Champagne will be served at the New Year’s Day pep rally as fans usher in a new, more hopeful year.
“We expect about 3,000 fans from all over the country and the world at each of these parties,” said Garrity. “Last year we greeted Packer fan customers on our tours from 47 of the 50 states and 13 foreign countries.”
All children under 14 who attend the pep rally/tailgate party receive a limited edition Favre bobble head doll. Garrity commented, “While we all hope and expect that Brett won’t retire this year, many fans look at this as a last opportunity to see him play, just in case.”
“For Christmas we are partnering with Brett Favre to present a halftime contest on the field,” added Garrity. “All of our customers and those of OfficialBrettFavre.com will be entered in a chance to compete before 70,000-plus fans and to win round-trip tour packages to Packer road game and autographed Brett Favre items.”
The seven-day 11th annual Packer Cruise scheduled for February 26, 2006 will feature its most extensive player and celebrity line up ever. Players and celebrities expect onboard include Antonio Chatman, Chad Clifton, Nick Collins, Tony Fisher, Grady Jackson, Vonta Leach, Mark Roman, and Johnnie Gray, Packer Hall-of-Famer and radio and TV personality. Gray and radio personality T.C. Martin with serve as the masters of ceremonies.
“We carefully selected our player guests. All of these players are really enthused about being on the cruise and interacting with fans,” said Garrity. “These are all big names, obviously, but they are warm, friendly people who are excited to meet and hang out with Packer fans.
Packer Fan Tours extends a special offer to members of the Packers Partners Club of Champions. Those who book the cruise prior to December 31 will receive a discount $75 per person (with a limit of two bookings per member). This special discount is a “fist come-first serve” offer good as long as cabins are available. Those club members booking prior to Christmas will also receive a personally autographed holiday card from one of the eight players expected on the cruise.
The Eastern Caribbean area where the cruise is headed was recently named one of the top travel destinations in the world. Prices start as low as $899 per person, less a $75 discount for PPCC members signing up early.
Can’t make the cruise? Well, how about a “safari” to Africa? For the first time ever, Fan Tours is planning a tour of Kenya next May. It will benefit the new giraffe exhibit at the NEW Zoo in Brown County, Wis.
For more information, contact Packer Fan Tours at 580 Cormier Road, Green Bay WI 54304; call (800) 851-7225; or view packerfantours.com.