GREEN BAY (NBC26) — Preparations are underway at Lambeau Field as the Packers expect to welcome upwards of 8,000 fans at Sunday's NFC Championship game.
Staff is getting the stadium, field and stands ready for winter weather and COVID-19 safety protocols.
The tarp is up on a freshly painted field. Crews put ice melt around the stands in case there's snow or ice on surfaces come game day. An internal crew is on standby to assist with snow and ice removal Sunday.
Similar to last weekend's home playoff game, fans will sit in socially distanced pods. Face coverings are required to be worn at all times. Sanitation stations are placed around the concourse.
“The protocols that the NFL’s been using for more than 110 games and over one million fans this year has proven to work, and work safely," said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Green Bay Packers. "We worked on that all year here to be ready to implement them."
The majority of fans set to be at the game Sunday are season ticket holders. Healthcare workers, Tampa Bay fans and players' friends and family will also be in attendance.
The crowd will look similar to that of last weekend's game at Lambeau, filling up roughly 10 percent of the stadium.
"As you saw the coaches and players discuss it really made a difference for them. We're excited that there was that much energy in the stadium. We're looking forward to having that same impact this Sunday," Popkey said.
Ahead of the game, fans spent the day touring the stadium and Hall of Fame.
"I feel like our odds are much better. This team is going in confident and playing very well," said Jim Korducki, a Packers fan. "So I'm very hopeful. Very confident."
For some, Sunday is a special day for more reasons than one.
"They're playing on my birthday. I'm rooting for them to go ahead and win for my birthday," said Haniyyah Best, Packers fan
The team faces more pressure to win the Championship game after the loss to Tampa Bay in October.
"The last time we played the Buccaneers it was kind of hard. Aaron kept on getting sacked, but I think since we got that far we knew what their plan was, so I think we're going to develop and think about how we should play," said Josiah Heck, Packers fan.
Other fans are hopeful the green and gold will take it to the next level.
"It's not every year where your football team has a chance to go to the super bowl," said Eglael Vasquez, Packers fan. "Hopefully we get the W and Go Pack Go!"
The Packers continue to warn fans about ticket offerings online. Popkey said the NFC Championship game tickets aren't transferable and can't be resold due to specific conditions on the tickets.
