Lambeau tundra could be graced with snowmobile races Stadium district board moves forward with talks for February event By Monique Balas News-Chronicle ASHWAUBENON - Restless football fans could have at least one reason to return to Lambeau Field after the season if efforts to hold a Snocross Worldwide Championship event in February are successful. The Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District Board voted unanimously to proceed with negotiations and pursue a contract with the association after hearing from its chief executive officer, Scott O'Malley, at a Wednesday afternoon board meeting. "We are targeting to take our most popular venues to large cities," O'Malley told the board. "Lambeau Field is at the top of the list." O'Malley fielded a variety of questions ranging from the amount of spectators and revenue an event could bring to Green Bay's economy to how snowmobile equipment could affect Lambeau turf. Board executive director Pat Webb asked how many people Green Bay could expect to see at the event, tentatively slated for Feb. 28 and 29. The race would be one of 10 national Snocross events. "I know what I'd like to see," O'Malley said to some laughter, speculating that the event could bring in a minimum of 10,000 people to a best-case scenario of 25,000 over the weekend. "I think this race could have a huge impact on this town," he said. "Five thousand per day is a minimum of what we would expect." He said Lambeau turf would likely not be disrupted by the races because they have been held without problems in other stadiums, although Lambeau would be the first National Football League stadium. Board secretary Ann Patteson asked how area hotels, bars and restaurants might benefit from an event, which would take place during a dormant period after the football season and before spring. O'Malley said at least 1,500 people, including racers, teams and crew, would need lodging during the event weekend. He said tickets would probably cost between $20 and $25. The Green Bay Packers and the board have an agreement to hold events inside the stadium during certain off-season time periods, pending team approval. After agreeing to proceed with negotiations between PMI and the Packers, the board decided to get approval from the Packers and meet in closed session with a contract. O'Malley said he was very pleased with the meeting. "I don't know that it could've gone any better," he said. "We got the motion we were looking for."