Concert not on Lambeau's radar

GREEN BAY - Kenny Chesney had such a good time performing at Lambeau Field in June 2011 that he wanted to return this past summer.

“They definitely wanted to be back, and back then we were on record saying they wanted to come back, but at that time the construction was at a point where we really didn't know nor did the Packers know,” said Cora Haltaufderheid with PMI Entertainment Group, which helps coordinate events with the Packers.

On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers announced Chesney would be performing at Miller Park next May 18.

The construction at Lambeau Field is still keeping any sort of concert off of the Packers' radar.

“I think it would be nice to bring in quality acts that could fill the stadium and really help the community,” said Pat Webb, the executive director of the Stadium District Board for Lambeau Field.

Webb says the Stadium District Board is planning to sit down with Packers representatives to discuss when another act could come to Lambeau.

“We're kind of representing the taxpayers on this and I think generally the taxpayers would like more events in the facility, so we try to accommodate that,” said Webb.

Even though the construction on the stadium bowl is more than half complete, construction on the atrium could begin as soon as this off season, further complicating the concert availability.

“Right now we're finalizing the conceptual aspects of those plans,” said Aaron Popkey, spokesperson for the Packers. “I think once we settle on what everything is going to be here then construction folks will be able to tell us what that schedule is.”

The construction timeline combined with the year-and-a-half-to-two-year process it takes to book a stadium tour makes it highly unlikely any sort of non-football event will be at Lambeau Field in 2013.

“The magnitude of a stadium tour is much larger because there's fewer of them and obviously the sound and equipment is three fold what it is in an arena,” said Haltaufderheid.

If another concert were to happen, it would only happen in early summer, considering Lambeau Field needs to be up to shape for its main purpose.