By Todd Klassy
Madison Magazine
Special To Channel 3000

With the return of autumn so too comes the start of football. And there's no better place on the planet to experience both than Green Bay, Wis.

Yes, gone is the guy who once lit up our Sunday afternoons. Many might even think a dark cloud now hangs over a Favre-less Green Bay. But the proud city forever linked to the football team that shares its name is alive and kicking. And a weekend in Green Bay might be the best therapy if you still miss Brett Favre.

A visit to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (1265 Lombardi Ave.) will remind you that the Packers have experienced far worse tragedies in the team's 89-year history. You can take pride in the fact that there is no earthly reason why the Packers should even exist in a town barely pushing 100,000 people, let alone claim twelve world championships--more than any other team in the history of the National Football League.

Still sad? Maybe a game might cheer you up. If you're not lucky enough to have tickets -- or friends with tickets -- you might think it's impossible to experience the storied Lambeau Field on game day. More than 40,000 people are on the waiting list for season tickets, and most of them will never see the front of the line. And while buying tickets through a broker can be outrageously expensive, don't be discouraged. Scoring seats is easier than you might think.

Before every home game, at the intersection of South Oneida Street and Armed Forces Drive (formerly Packer Drive), you'll find Scalper's Row. Though located right across from Lambeau, you're actually in Ashwaubenon, where ticket scalping is legal.

In a chaotic scene, buyers and sellers swap tickets and cash for several hours before the start of each game. But timing is everything. And except for the most popular games (Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas) you'll often find scalpers dumping tickets at or near face value five to ten minutes before kickoff. For the lowest prices, avoid buying tickets for games designated for Milwaukee season ticket holders. Because so few in Green Bay have tickets to those games, more people vying for them inflates the cost.

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