Riverside Ballroom
Packers Heritage Trail
— Packing Plant Spur —
In 1959, nearly 1,000 guests filled the Riverside for the Packers' kickoff dinner before Vince Lombardi's first season as coach. "This is your team," Lombardi told the crowd. "It belongs to the City of Green Bay. Without you, we can do nothing."
At that point, not everyone was pleased with the decision to hire Lombardi. Nine months earlier, a "We want Lambeau" rally was held here. Some 200 people gathered to endorse the idea of the Packers rehiring Lambeau after their 1-10-1 finish in 1958. Pete Tinsley, one of his former players, promised if Lambeau returned there'd be "less lipstick and beer" for the players.
The Packers Hall of Fame also held its banquets here from 1972 to 1977. Lombardi, who died in 1970, was among those inducted during that period. A member of the class of 1975, he was represented by his widow, Marie.
The present Riverside Ballroom opened in 1936 after a fire destroyed most of the original building. The original Riverside was built in 1929.
Sponsored by:
Ken, Kristl and
Kenny Tedford
Erected 2012 by Packers Heritage Trail Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.
Location. 44° 30.285′ N, 87° 59.22′ W. Marker is in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in Brown County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 141) and Elizabeth Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted on the east side of the ballroom 250 feet off of Main Steet. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1560 Main Street, Green Bay WI 54302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Indian Packing Plant & Acme Packing Plant (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bellevue Park (about 700 feet away); City Stadium (approx. 0.4 miles away); Green Bay - De Pere Antiquarian Society (approx. 0.4 miles away); Curly Lambeau (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hagemeister Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Packers Practice Fields (approx. 0.4 miles away); Curly Lambeau's Birthplace Home (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Green Bay.
Also see . . . Packers Heritage Trail. (Submitted on June 15, 2012, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2012, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,141 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on February 19, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2012, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.