Spartan Race coming to Lambeau Field

GREEN BAY - It's not a concert or a football game, but the Spartan Race coming to Lambeau Field in June 2017 should be a good draw.

Spartan Race is an obstacle race company that claims more than 1 million participants in 170 events in 25 countries. It is scheduled to host a race June 24 at Lambeau Field.

"Adding Lambeau Field, a storied venue, to our roster of stadium races will offer Spartans an exciting new opportunity in Green Bay," said Joe De Dena, Spartan Race founder and CEO. 

Races draw 7,000 to 8,000 participants, many of them repeat performers and from out of the area.

"Most of our people do 20 or 30 events. It's crazy," De Sena said.

Spartan Race approached the Packers about using Lambeau Field. Obstacles will be in and around Lambeau Field, though not on the grass. The team agreed to the use of bleachers, concourse and parking lot.

"We are in and out of the stadium. Typically we are not on the grass," De Sena said. "We do go around the field."

Races have been held at Miller Park, Fenway Park, Citi Field, AT&T Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, among other venues.

"We are always pleased if events bring people into the community who wouldn't normally come," said Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs. "With all our events, we have over 100,000 over the course of the year," not including football.

June is an excellent time for the event, said Brad Toll, president/CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"It's a good month for us, but it's not like July or August," Toll said. "June, we are typically starting to ramp up a little bit for the summer."

If the Packers were able to land a concert for Lambeau Field the week before, it would make June a very good month. The Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District said the team was approached by an interested act, but details have not been made public.

Familiar photos of Spartan Races include participants covered in mud, though mud isn't a given.

"Sometimes there is mud, sometimes there isn't," De Sena said.

The Lambeau event will include more than 20 obstacles on a more than 3-mile course. Also, there will be a Spartan Kids Race.

Cost to participate is in the area of $85-90. For the Lambeau event, Spartan Race is allowing participants to pre-register for $1. It guarantees an opportunity to purchase a ticket later and also provides race information and special offers.

Elite participants can earn payouts based on finishes.

Contact rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at rrymanpg or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Or call him at (920) 431-8342.