The Green Bay Packers, founded in 1919, are one of the oldest franchises in all of professional sports, let alone the NFL. Unlike other teams in the sports world, the Packers do not have a traditional owner. Instead, they are “owned” by the community in which they play.
As many may be aware, the Packers will, from time to time, make stocks in the team available for fans to purchase. Money raised in these stock sales help fund stadium renovations or building projects surrounding Lambeau Field. Fans who have purchased stocks in the Packers are invited to the annual owners meeting, where the CEO/President and Board of Directors give updates on the state of the franchise.
Needless to say, the bond between the Packers and their fans is unique. While other teams have die-hard supporters and dedicated fans, there truly is nothing like the connection between Green Bay and its fans.
Their long history, too, is filled with tremendous stories of player-fan interactions and a plethora of traditions involving the organization and the people who call the city of Green Bay their home.
The Storied Green Bay Packers Fence
If one were to make the journey to watch a game at Lambeau Field, or even to tour the Packers Hall of Fame, one would notice that there are several homes across the street from the stadium with murals painted on them.
These murals change from year to year, but they have become one of the most cherished traditions for Packers fans, especially those that live in the city of Green Bay itself.
Recently, Sports Heroics had the opportunity to talk to mural artist Zane Statz, the artist behind the tradition of the Green Bay Packers Fence.
Can you give us a brief overview of the history of the Green Bay Packers fence?
Zane Statz is a mural artist who lives in the Green Bay area. When asked to provide a little bit of background on the tradition of the Packers fence, he replied, “I went to school at St. Norbert from 2010-14. After I graduated, I had a portfolio of all of the art and design work I had made. A guy from New York City found my work. He owned a house on Shadow Lane. He called me and asked if I wanted to paint a mural.
“I brought an assistant with me because of the magnitude of the project. And that’s how it started. We do a different theme every year.”
Statz painted the fence at 1267 Shadow Lane for many years before passing the project on to his former assistant. He now paints a different fence on the same street with the help of fans in the community.
For those that are not aware of the geography of Green Bay, the fences are in the backyards of the homes on Shadow Lane, which means that they are plainly visible on Lombardi Avenue, the road that boasts Lambeau Field. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to get to the Packers’ stadium without at least glimpsing the fences.
How do you determine what to paint on the Packers fence?
As mentioned, there are multiple fences facing Lombardi Avenue that get painted with murals. Statz, however, paints one of them and he leaves his design up for the entirety of the season.
When asked how he determines what he will paint, or what the theme will be, he said, “Well, it depends on the culture of the team; prediction of what the year is going to be. The COVID year, the theme was community because fans weren’t allowed in the stadium. Fans could purchase their likeness to be on the fence and the money donated to COVID relief.
“I usually don’t have the final design figured out until a few weeks prior because of roster changes, injuries, and such. I have a few designs heading into August and September and make the final decision a couple of weeks before the season.”
Statz also revealed that his three favorite fence murals that he has created were the 2020 COVID year fence, this year’s fence because “500 people showed up to help paint it,” and his first one (pictured above).
As many may recall, fans were not allowed to attend games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statz allowed fans the opportunity to purchase having their likeness painted on the fence, with the theme that year being community.
Statz was able to raise $12,000 with this promotion, which was all donated to COVID relief charities.
Zane Statz Also Helps Design Custom Cleats for Green Bay Packers Players
In addition to his work on the Packers fence, Statz also designs custom apparel, which includes the cleats Packers players wear for the NFL initiative “My Cause, My Cleats.”
This year, he has helped design the cleats Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs will wear in support of Tricia’s Troops, an incredible organization that Sports Heroics covered earlier this year. Last year, he designed the cleats that were worn by both Jayden Reed and Sean Clifford.
If fans are interested in Zane’s work, they can visit his website, ZAS Designs.
Fans can also follow him on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook.
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