GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- The Packers played their first six home games without a single fan in the stands last season.
Eventually, nearly 10,000 spectators were allowed to view the NFC title game in person at Lambeau Field this past January.
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"It was disappointing," Kimberly resident Brian Hoerning said. "It was different."
"I had two tickets last year and couldn't come," Pardeeville Packers fan Jason Harper said.
"I'll get all emotional thinking about it," superfan Sue Stoltenberg said.
For almost an entire season, Lambeau was empty.
"It was hard," Stoltenberg said. "I hated watching the home games on TV. I hated it."
Now the Pack is back. And Kevin Van Ess is bringing the noise.
"Fans are the best in Green Bay, just look around," Van Ess, a member of the Packers band, said. "When you watch the ball games and you got half an empty stadium, it's not Lambeau. This is Lambeau, so we're glad to be back."
On Saturday, the Packers hosted a full capacity crowd at a game for the first time in over a year. It's also Van Ess' first game back playing music for fans.
"You can't get this sitting home in your living room during COVID," he said. "You gotta get out where it's all happening."
After 18 months without gameday tailgating in Lambeau's parking lots, grill smoke filled the air once again.
"[It's] awesome just to be inside a great building and having all the people around and having a good time and just seeing everybody being able to enjoy something again," Harper said.
For Stoltenberg, emotions ran high.
"I've missed two games in 44 years," she said. "Still, it's like walking in for the first time. You can just feel the energy."
Finally, Stoltenberg is home.
"You hear people say that this place is awesome," the Wausaukee resident said. "I just get goosebumps like that. It's incredible."
