Packers announce concert acts

GREEN BAY - Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5 will play the "NFL Kickoff 2011" concert outside Lambeau Field before the Green Bay Packers' Sept. 8 opener against the New Orleans Saints.

The concert will take place on a stage adjacent to Lambeau Field, continuing the NFL's recent tradition of big-name musical acts playing before the first game of the season. The Dave Matthews Band, Taylor Swift and Harry Connick Jr. performed in New Orleans last year.

The concert begins at 5:30 p.m., with the broadcast beginning at 6:30, an hour before kickoff, and will be shown on NBC's pregame show and on the NFL Network.

“We really look for a diverse range of acts to not only entertain the people of Green Bay, but everyone who is going to be watching nationally,” said Lawrence Randall, the NFL’s Director of Programming and Acquisitions.

“Everything that we've heard so far, people are very excited about the three acts that are coming in,” said Brad Toll, the President and CEO of the Green Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau. “With diverse acts, I think the demographic will be pretty wide.”

Equipment has started to arrive in the Lambeau Field parking lot where the concert stage will be setup. Barricades for the concert crowd will line Oneida and Armed Forces Drive. Gates open at 3:15 p.m. on game day with fans able to enter from Holmgren Way, first come first serve.

“With the free event we are going to be anticipating more than 20,000 that are going to be coming down there,” said Chief Eric Dunning of Ashwaubenon Public Safety.

An extra 35 to 40 public safety officers are expected to be on hand to assist the normal game day safety crews.

Dunning says whether attending the concert or the game, it is advised to arrive early.

“Parking is going to be just like a Packer game day,” said Dunning. “It's going to be first come, first serve, whether you park in someone's yard or business or what not.”

The concert is scheduled to last one hour. Parts of it will be broadcast on TV, but NFL officials say if it is anything like past kickoff concerts, it is something fans will want to see with their own eyes.

“Lambeau certainly is iconic and screams to be a unique place to the country and really shows the Packers fans off well,” said Randall.

Starting September 2, Oneida Street from Lombardi Avenue to Potts Avenue and part of Armed Forces Drive will be closed for concert setup. The closure could last up to ten days.