Shopko to Sponsor South End Gate of Lambeau Field in Expanded Green Bay Packers Deal

The National Football League’s Green Bay Packers have announced an expansion with their deal with Shopko with the Green Bay-based retailer sponsoring the new south end gate of Lambeau Field.

The gate will be branded the Shopko Gate and will be operational for the 2013 season.

The opening of the Shopko Gate further extends the partnership between the two organizations, building upon a longstanding relationship that has been enjoyed for more than 20 years.

“We are very pleased to have our longtime partner Shopko enhance their relationship with the Packers through the Shopko Gate,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We share a lot of history here in the Green Bay area, along with a deep commitment to the community. Shopko has been a great teammate to the Packers and we look forward to having thousands of fans enter Lambeau Field on gameday and for other events through this exciting new gate.”

The two organizations have partnered on a variety of activities throughout their 20-plus year relationship, including teaming up to create Packers-themed store displays featuring specially selected merchandise from some of the store’s biggest brands for each of the team’s home games. Shopko is also the exclusive sponsor of the “Kickoff Kid” contest which gives children 12 and younger the chance to win the opportunity to retrieve the kicking tee from the field after the game’s opening kickoff, and receive four game tickets.

“We have enjoyed a great relationship with Green Bay’s beloved Packers and we are proud to expand our partnership by sponsoring the new Shopko Gate at Lambeau Field,” said Paul Jones, Shopko President and CEO. “As the Packers expand the stadium to welcome more fans, Shopko is also expanding our brand into more communities to serve more customers. The partnership between the Packers and Shopko, both companies founded on Midwest values, is a natural fit. Shopko is proud to be the “Official Hometown Store of the Green Bay Packers.”

This announcement follows on the heels of significant changes at Shopko, as the retailer merged with Omaha-based Pamida earlier this year creating a $3 billion retailer with more than 350 stores. All of Shopko’s current stores will remain the same and all of Pamida’s existing stores will be converted to Shopko Hometown stores, a smaller-footprint store designed to meet the needs of residents in smaller communities.