Just dropping by: Odyssey Climbing + Fitness in Ashwaubenon
Fifth Ward Brewing Co. raises a glass to growing business
March 10, 2023
ASHWAUBENON – Working remotely took on a whole new meaning for the Green Bay Blizzard during training camp this season.
Earlier this month, the team’s front office had the task of figuring out how to move 30,000 pounds of artificial turf from its “home field” at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon to the Upper Peninsula – specifically Michigan Tech University (MTU) in Houghton, where the Blizzard held its eight-day training camp.
Larry Treankler, who owns the Blizzard with his wife Kathy, said the goal was to create a true sense of team by creating a retreat atmosphere.
“This is a life lesson about how working cooperatively creates great things for so many people and our community,” he said.
Cue MTU – the only thing missing in that plan was artificial turf.
So, to solve the problem, the team hauled its turf with.
And with 30,000 pounds of it, Larry said it took a “village” to make it all work – which included Green Bay Blizzard staff, The Village Companies, which is headquartered in Pulaski; Northwinds Adventures, where the team set up basecamp during its stay; John Mackey Trucking, which transported the turf; and 1902 Tap & Grill and Schmidt’s Corner Bar & Grill in the Houghton area which served as meal sponsors.
Economic, team impact
Being that this has never been done before, Tonya Dittman, director of engagement for The Village Companies, said it’s hard to gauge the complete economic impact on this project quite yet, but said this will be something that pays dividends down the road.
Dittman said what they did was harness business as a powerful engine for good.
The artificial turf was rolled out inside Michigan Technological University’s Quad Core Fitness Center during the team’s eight-day training camp. Photo Courtesy of the Green Bay Blizzard
“What this means is ultimately, The Village Companies is planting and sowing seeds for the future, and building relationships with key allies, such as The Resch Center, Northwinds Adventures and MTU,” she said.
Dittman said they’re not just giving back, they’re building an ecosystem that strengthens people, families and communities.
“We’re not just giving the fish, but teaching those in the ecosystem to fish so there is a continued circular economy that benefits all involved,” she said.
Kathy Treankler said she thinks the impact will be more on the players rather than on the businesses.
She said it was a “labor of love” made possible through “Larry’s brainstorm.”
“To have it at Michigan Tech, to incorporate Northwinds Adventures (the location players stayed during the trip), to get our players to see the beauty of the outdoors, which they wouldn’t always get from somewhere else, (is the real impact),” she said.
Joel Isaacson, senior athletic director for MTU said any time they can bring teams to their area to be able to stay and utilize the resources is helpful.
“In my 21-year tenure with MTU, this has never been done,” he said. “Being able to tie our brand with the Blizzard brand will absolutely have an economic impact, maybe not something tangible we’ll be able to put a number on right away. I think anytime we can take Michigan Tech and put it out there to showcase our campus, that’s a positive impact on our community.”
Ryan Hopson, director of sales for the Blizzard, said he hopes the adventure brings people down from Michigan.
“Half of the ownership (brought) tickets to give away in Michigan, and we anticipate people driving down to catch a game and seeing indoor football as they’ve never seen,” he said.
Furthermore, Hopson said indoor football prides itself on affordable family fun.
“Not everybody can afford to go across the street to a Green Bay Packers game,” he said. “Ultimately, this will lead to more people being aware this exists.”
Hopson said it may also spark someone’s interest in arena football.
The turf rolls required a spine forklift attachment, and a helping hand to ensure they are being loaded properly into the truck. Chris Rugowski Photo
“Maybe, from a pure football standpoint, in Michigan, if some of the players realize the NFL is not for them, indoor football might be for them,” he said.
Building camaraderie
While it was dubbed as a retreat, it was meant to build camaraderie, Hopson said.
“This whole week in Michigan (was) the full training camp roster,” he said. “By rule, you have two weeks to bring 40 guys in, cut down to 25, and then play the next week. We get back and make cuts, practice for a week and then play March 19 (against the Frisco Fighters). By being in such a secluded area, you are not able to avoid hanging out with your teammate. We believe this will fast forward team chemistry as you have no choice but to hang out with the other players.”
Hopson said the whole process took about three to four months of planning, with the last two months in fast forward.
“It was a lot of logistics, getting the truck set up, figuring out how many beds there are at Northwinds and how to transport the players from Northwinds to MTU and back,” he said.
Moving the turf
Another integral part of this whole process was the transport of materials, done by John Mackey Trucking.
“They are an affiliate of Bay Tek games,” Kathy said. “John (Mackey) has been transporting games for us for decades, literally. So he’s a friend and a vendor at the same time.”
So, what does it take to move 30,000 pounds of turf?
Forklifts and lots of people.
At the Resch Center, PMI Entertainment does the rollout work.
“The Resch Center – PMI Entertainment team has been incredible throughout this process, and without their help and participation, this would never happen,” Hopson said.
When it arrived in Michigan, the student-athletes of the MTU Huskies (football team) helped unroll and roll the turf throughout the eight-day camp.
Isaacson said anywhere between 12-15 student-athletes helped install the turf.
“It’s always good to have our football team involved,” he said. “You can move a lot of equipment with them involved.”
Putting the field size into perspective, the field is 85 feet wide and 50 yards long with eight-yard endzones.
The turf is about one-and-a-half inches thick, and the majority of the rolls weigh between 2,000-2,500 pounds each.
When it comes to timing, Isaacson said it worked out perfectly, as it was MTU’s Spring Break week.
He said he is unsure if this would have played out the same had it not been for MTU’s spring break – given the usual reservations for the facility combined with the catering needs for the campus and the local community in general.
“When they (started) practice, a lot of our student-athletes (were) leaving town and our facility (was) being utilized at a time when traditionally it’s quiet,” Isaacson said. “To find that the reservation was going to come in, and they were going to be there all week long utilizing our resources was probably the best timing option.”
Visit greenbayblizzard.com for tickets and more information.
