My Bucket List Experience!

Being a Green Bay Packers football fan was an amazing ride this year. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I never thought I'd see the Packers win the “big game,” or actually be able to go to it. The team dealt with mediocrity for 20-plus years during my youth. Now, I’ve seen them win two Super Bowls (1997 and 2011), plus a trip to the big event in 1998, only to see the Packers lose to the Broncos. However, this year was extra special for me for two reasons. First, I thought the team would never make it because of all their injuries. And second, when they did, my brother and I made the spontaneous decision to buy tickets the Thursday before the big game.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. The Super Bowl is a tough, expensive venue, but it’s an experience all football fans should get to have. For me, it was worth it because of my loyalty to the Packers and my love of the game—I’m a true, crazy, passionate football fan.

Our trip was exciting: we drove from Minneapolis to Dallas (a 2000-mile round trip) in about 14 hours. On the way down, we hit bad winter storms in Oklahoma. They had 20-plus inches of snow, which isn't an issue in Minnesota because we have the equipment to move it. In Oklahoma, however, it meant a six-hour drive at about 45 miles an hour to get to Texas.

I want to thank my old college roommate because he let us stay at his house and gave us a grand tour of the Dallas/Arlington area. We'd brought a Flat Stanley (see above) for my brother’s niece’s school project, so each state and each Super Bowl event was filled with Stanley appearances.

Meanwhile, we had the full NFL experience: the local Packer bar, the outside party around the stadium, and the game itself. We were fortunate to avoid any problems with the tickets, and we got in early so we missed the big rush. I was extremely impressed with the stadium structure, one of the largest, eight-sided JumboTrons in the world, good views (even from Level 4), and the half-time show. One downside: I was extremely disappointed in the service provided by the stadium staff. They missed the mark of doing a good job serving food and beverages, or providing directions.

For me, this was a bucket list item—to see my team live, winning the Super Bowl. And, there is always a lesson to learn on a trip like this. After the service we experienced at the stadium, it was clearer than ever to me that you can have a great product, but if your service is bad, many customers will leave you for other products.

The Pack is Back!