Planners wanting to tally a higher score for their next meeting in East Central Wisconsin can include a sporting event or recreational endeavor in the itinerary.
Whether attendees are sitting on the sidelines for Packers football or participating in water sports, golf, ice skating, geocaching or other activities, the region is rife with options for fun-filled group gatherings.
Green Bay
Renowned as the home of the NFL Green Bay Packers, Green Bay takes its sports seriously.
According to Beth Ropson, director of sales for the Greater Green Bay CVB, Green Bay is also the smallest city to host an NFL team, which makes the experience for fans and visitors truly unique.
“For example, groups visiting Green Bay can take a guided tour of Lambeau Field, which includes an inside look at a private suite, the players’ tunnel and photo ops right on the sidelines,” she says, adding group seating is available for games. “Groups of 20 or more can get discounted ticket packages with optional food and beverage perks.”
When football season ends, groups in town during baseball season can check out a Green Bay Bullfrogs game at Joannes Stadium.
Ropson says there are various packages available that accommodate groups from two to 2,500 people.
“And if golf is more your group’s style, check out the packages at Thornberry Creek at Oneida,” she adds. “This course is Northeast Wisconsin’s top course and the official course of the Green Bay Packers. With meeting spaces, a full-service restaurant on-site and stay-and-play packages, Thornberry Creek has everything you need for a memorable outing.”
Fond du Lac
Some exciting sporting options await groups at Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center, which is located on the southeast shore of Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac.
“For adventurous groups who want to learn a new sport such as windsurfing, kite surfing or stand-up paddleboarding, Wind Power offers instructions for all levels,” says Carrie Stollenwerk, director of sales at the Fond du Lac Area CVB. “Lake Winnebago provides ideal conditions for wind and water sports, and is one of the best sailing lakes in the Midwest.”
Land-based play awaits groups at the 27-hole Rolling Meadows Golf Course, which is located near the new Lake Winnebago Conference Center.
“Groups will warm up with a complete practice facility, including a putting green, a short game area with a sand bunker and a full driving range,” Stollenwerk says. “A final stop at the golf shop and 28th Hole Bar and Grill will complete an event here.”
In addition to a traditional golf outing, Stollenwerk says groups can also play a round of FootGolf, a fun game that combines soccer and golf.
Year-round, attendees who are game can also tie on a pair of skates for a twirl around the ice at the Fond du Lac Blue Line Club and Family Ice Center, an indoor facility that offers hockey, figure skating and more.
“The center regularly hosts groups for special events such as home games for the Fond du Lac Bears, an amateur hockey team,” Stollenwerk says. “Zamboni rides can also be arranged for those special group events.”
Fox Cities
Active groups meeting in Appleton are encouraged to check out Badger Sports Park, where options include mini golf, batting cages, go carts, laser tag and more.
“The park has many activities to get a team playing and competing together,” says Jennifer Hecht, convention services coordinator for the Fox Cities CVB.
Hecht adds the CVB offers a scavenger hunt for groups staying in downtown Appleton.
“The scavenger hunt gets them exploring our downtown area and enjoying everything there is to see and do within walking distance of their hotel,” she says.
Perhaps the most popular on-the-sidelines option in Appleton is an outing to see the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a Class A affiliate to baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers, play a game at Fox Cities Stadium.
“Groups can take in a game together, and maybe even some fireworks, while they’re in town,” Hecht says. “Timber Rattlers games pack plenty of entertainment and groups can enjoy a meal catered by the stadium either before the game or during the action.”
Groups have also enjoyed the banquet/meeting space provided by the new club level at Fox Cities Stadium.
“Overlooking the field, this space is perfect for group meetings and dinners,” Hecht says.
Oshkosh
Geocaching, best described as a fun and interactive high-tech treasure hunt, is a popular activity for groups convening in Oshkosh.
“Geocaching is a great event for teambuilding, and it’s well suited for all ages and abilities,” says Cathy Cluff, sales director for the Oshkosh CVB. “All you need is access to GPS.”
Scenic places to geocache in the area, Cluff adds, include the Wiouwash State Trail, which follows a historic railroad bed north and west of Oshkosh; Menominee Park, which is situated on the shores of Lake Winnebago; South Park, which is home to a World War II Memorial; and downtown Oshkosh, where attendees will also find shopping and dining opportunities.
Cluff says the Leach Amphitheater, which hosts the summer-long Waterfest music series, is the heart of downtown Oshkosh. The amphitheater is host to numerous festivals and is available to host company outings and large-scale sporting events.
Door County
Door County is a great destination for groups interested in outdoor recreation while surrounded by 300 miles of shoreline and picturesque landscape, according to Laura Bradley, marketing and sales manager for the Door County Visitor Bureau.
Bradley says there is a number of teambuilding activities to choose from, including kayaking the waters of Lake Michigan or the bay of Green Bay, taking a bike tour along the water’s edge and winding backroads, or arranging a day-long teambuilding outing with the Team Leadership Center, which facilitates customized activity packages, including ropes courses and ziplining.
“Door County also offers several sporting events for those looking for an experience from the sidelines,” Bradley says, citing Door County Destroyers semi-pro football games at Baileys Harbor Recreation Park. “And if you time it just right, your group can cheer on participants for any one of the sports events throughout the year, including triathlons, half marathons, century bicycle rides, relay races, pond hockey tournaments and more.”
Bradley adds that several communities throughout Door County are home to parks that double as great venues for group gatherings, from a small picnic to a large tented event.
Sheboygan
When in Sheboygan, groups can head out to Wildwood Baseball Park to watch the Sheboygan A’s round the bases. The park’s staff can facilitate tailgate parties and skybox rentals.
Other local options include a round of golf at one of the various area courses, such as The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, which can be arranged by Blue Harbor Resort, and Quit Qui Oc Golf Club, adjacent to The Osthoff Resort. Other activities include Segway tours of the Sheboygan waterfront and waterborne pursuits, such as stand-up paddleboarding, surfing and sailing.
Freelancer CAROLYN BLACKBURN is a longtime contributor to Meetings Focus.
