JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — NFL weekend is here, but our stadium won’t be filled with Jags fans this Sunday. Instead, the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers are facing off at TIAA Bank Field right here in Jacksonville.
It’s no Superdome, but that’s not stopping their fans from showing up for the team.
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“We’ve been waiting a long time for this with COVID last year, and then the first game of the year we were all pumped up and then we have to move, but we’re excited to be here,” explained Saints super fans Debbie and Theresa.
They drove 11 hours to get to Jacksonville, and it’s their first time here.
It’s a new city for Packers fans Sue and Thomas O’Brien, who flew to Jacksonville with a plane full of Packers fans.
O’Brien says, “We’re staying at the Hyatt Regency and it’s full.”
The Hyatt Regency is fully booked for Saturday night, as well as the DoubleTree Downtown. Other hotels nearby are close to being fully booked.
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Businesses downtown are preparing for the influx of people.
“We’re definitely going to extend our hours a little bit on Sunday, definitely,” says Will Frazier of Bold City Brewery.
He believes since both teams travel really well, no matter who wins on Sunday, there’s no doubt that Jacksonville scores big this weekend.
“We have to take the blessings that we get and support them, and I’m definitely looking forward to it. I think it will be really good for all of downtown. "