GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — For the first of four Sundays in 2021, the Green Bay Booyah played in custom green and gold jerseys to honor their slightly more famous neighbors – the Green Bay Packers.
The concept began in February when the Booyah rang their 2020 graphic design intern Sophie Van Remortel, a De Pere native. Last season, she worked on sponsored visuals, COVID-19 materials, and park signage.
"The only direction they gave me was we want green and gold, and it's going to be the Green Bay G.O.A.T.S. for greatest of all time, and do what you want with that information," Van Remortel said.
Van Remortel estimated that she spent up to six hours a day working on multiple design concepts for a month. By March, the team had already chosen their favorite – a green to gold ombre abstract pattern. In crafting her inspiration boards, Van Remortel noticed that such patterns beyond pinstripes were uncommon in the Northwoods League.
"This is the first time I'm actually wearing it. I'm super stoked," Van Remortel said. "Seeing it in the shop and everything, I was just smiling ear to ear. Seeing the vision come to life is just kind of a dream come true for any designer or any young professional."
To celebrate the design, Van Remortel was invited back to Capital Credit Union Park to throw the first pitch at Sunday's game against the Lakeshore Chinooks.
"It's just cool," Max Wagner, Preble High School alum and current Clemson University infielder said. "Obviously the Packers, they play on Sunday. So it's kind of cool that we get to do the same thing on Sunday, and literally right down the street from them. It's just a cool experience."
The team even donned new numbers that corresponded to the legends of Lambeau Field.
"We got coach wearing 92. He asked who is that, I had to give him a little lesson on that," Wagner said. "The great Reggie White. I'm wearing 81. Desmond Howard: great Super Bowl MVP, Heisman winner, but just really cool to just have other Packers players on the jersey today."
#12 was worn by Will Semb from De Pere.
The GOATS will play again on June 27, August 1, and August 8. After the final Sunday home game, fans can bid on the jerseys during a silent auction that will be held online and at Capital Credit Union Park.
