NFL Kickoff concert preps underway

GREEN BAY - The Packers-Saints matchup is next week, but leading up to the game; major preparations for the NFL Kickoff concert are underway.

Because of the work involved, Thursday is the last day roads near Lambeau Field will be open to the public for about a week.

Preparations are already underway on South Oneida Street by the stadium parking lot.

The Brown County Highway Dept. had crews working all day Wednesday to get the area ready.

“We're preparing for the upcoming party that Lambeau Field's got going on, and some of the signal lights on Armed Forces Drive have to come down. We're taking down two of the trees,” said Lanz Michlig with the Brown County Highway Department. “They want to use the stadium itself for a backdrop for the stage, so all the people are actually going to be seeing Lambeau Field behind the stage itself. So we're just opening this up so it looks better.”

National Construction Rentals is also on site. Crews are in the process of putting up 6,500 feet of fencing for the big event.

“A lot of it, I think, is just going to be for crowd control, and just to guide people around to the different areas,” said fence installer foreman Warren Yuds.

And this is just the beginning. People can expect to see even more work leading up to the concert which will precede the home opener.

“They're going to see a lot of barricade fencing going up around, or between, the Resch Center and that corridor through there. And they'll see a bunch of tents with stuff going on, and our fence will be around it,” said Yuds.

The musical acts are set with Maroon 5, Lady Antebellum and Kid Rock all part of an hour-long free concert outside Lambeau Field.

Introducing those acts will be FOX 11 Good Day Wisconsin reporter Emily Deem and WIXX on-air personality Average Joe.

“I love Maroon 5, I love Lady Antebellum, Kid Rock, I mean, how awesome is that for all of them to be coming here, and I listen to their music on a daily basis, so to see them in person, to be on stage with them, to introduce them - once in a lifetime type of thing,” said Deem.

“I guess this party is pretty much one step down from the Super Bowl party and I'm all over that - big Packers fan, big music fan, so it's kind of the best of both worlds,” said Average Joe.

The season opener is Thursday, September 8th.

South Oneida Street from Lombardi Avenue to Potts Avenue and part of Armed Forces Drive will be closed until after Game Day.