Ryan Glasspiegel
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Chief Chat Episode 27: Aaron Rodgers
LIVE NOW with Aaron Rodgers! Super Bowl champ, Super Bowl MVP and 2x NFL MVP Please help us welcome Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Chief Chat with CMSgt Luis Reyes! Thanks to Bose for connecting us with Aaron.#ChiefChat #MilitaryExclusive #TuneInTuesdays #AaronRodgers #Packers #TeamBose
Posted by Exchange on Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Aaron Rodgers did an interview last week with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service on Facebook, where he touched on things like leadership and superstitions. One part of it that stood out to me was around the 39-minute mark when Rodgers expressed hopefulness about fans in the stands at Lambeau this season.
“I think it would be really strange [to play without fans],” Rodgers said. “I understand the state of the country for sure. But, there’s something special about Lambeau Field. We have the tradition and history of excellence in Green Bay that the NFL trophy for the Super Bowl is called the Lombardi trophy after our famed coach. We go to work in Green Bay every day on Lombardi Avenue. We play at Lambeau Field named after Curly Lambeau who started the team in 1919.”
“It’s just different in Green Bay,” he continued. “We have such a great interaction with our fans. We have thousands and thousands of fans at training camp. The businesses and the houses for rent on Lombardi and Ridge Ave. The community is really tied to the team, and so many great mom-and-pop businesses and restaurants and bars right there are contingent on us having games. I know those guys are hurting and hopeful — like we all are — that things can stabilize at some point.”
Rodgers reiterated that he was really hopeful that fans would be allowed in stadiums, and that obviously there would have to be protocols in place for them to feel comfortable about their safety.
Recently, Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy sent a letter to season ticket holders informing them to expect capacity at Lambeau to be “significantly reduced”. That seems to leave some wiggle room open for some fans, but it definitely wouldn’t be the same — for the fans in the venue, the players, or all the businesses that Rodgers mentioned surrounding Lambeau in Green Bay.
I think Rogers feeds off the crowd like many other star athletes. Star … American Athletes.
International football/soccer doesn’t need fans. In America we need fans at games. Full arenas and stadiums. That is part of what sport is about. The sport is important to connection between people Just as much as it’s a connection between athletes on a team. We share our love of sport.
It’s just as cool watching your team win as it is to share that experience with others at a game or event. Fans watch on tv and connect with the fans watching live in person. That’s how it’s done in America. Without connection, we don’t participate.
And last I checked, few American athletes want to play In other countries, unless it’s designed to help them get back to playing in America. In front of fans.
No one in Hockey is eager to give up the NHL for Russian or Canadien Hockey without fans.
No one in MLB is eager to play in South Korea or Japan, rather than in America. Without fans.
LeBron could be paid $100 million a year to play exclusively in China with no American fans, and he won’t go. Maybe he would.
rogers is saying what everyone is thinking. No fans may lead to no sport. Or less of it. And less media. Less money.