The decades-old Green Bay Packers training camp bike tradition, where players ride a young fan’s bike to practice, lives on and is a testament to the type of community Green Bay fosters.
The bike tradition is a staple of training camp season that has spanned generations. Parents that once came to Lambeau field as a child with hopes a player would choose their bike now bring their children to share the memory.
Among them is Jason Bruehl who brought his two sons to their first training camp Aug. 2, to give them the “Packer experience.”
“It’s something that you can talk to your kids about,” Bruehl said. “It’s a tradition that you can share with their kids as they get older and their grandkids.”
Bruehl went to training camps back in the 90s, and while he never brought a bike, he did get Reggie White’s autograph. He said the bike tradition is one of those things that kids do not forget.
People travel from all over to attend training camp. Benjamin and Melodee Long, along with their 8-year-old son Creed, traveled 11 hours and 46 minutes from Southwest Missouri for it.
“The energy here and the community … it’s wonderful,” Melodee Long said.
Melodee grew up coming to training camp in high school, nearly 30 years ago. This is the first year she brought her husband and son, starting a new family tradition.
“This is what the community’s known for, it’s amazing to be apart of something where you don’t live,” Benjamin Long said. “I feel like we belong.”
The Packers fourth practice of the year on Sunday was the Long’s first training camp morning of their weeklong visit. They will be back throughout the week, following the tips and tricks they heard from other fans.
As their son rode around on his bike sporting his Nazir Stackhouse jersey, it’s nearly impossible to tell he was once a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. Melodee Long said Creed is now 100% a Packers fan, and while his bike was not picked on their first day, hopes are high it’ll happen before they leave.
As the second week of training camp begins, Family Night on Aug. 7, will close it out. Family Night provides the opportunity to watch the Packers practice in Lambeau Field; tickets are $10.
When is Packers training camp 2026?
Packers’ training camp began July 29 and training sessions open to the public conclude Aug. 26 with a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, according to the team’s website.
The public Packers practices begin around 10:30 a.m. at Ray Nitschke Field, 831 Armed Forces Drive. By 9 a.m. groups of fans are already waiting for the team to make their way to the field. For the full schedule visit packers.com.
Kathryn Byrnes is a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at kbyrnes@gannett.com or 920-431-8526.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers bike tradition connects generations of fans
Reporting by Kathryn Byrnes, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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By Kathryn Byrnes, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
