In a state known more for gold panning than the NFL, cheering for the green and gold is quite common.
On a recent trip to visit family in the Last Frontier state, I noticed at least four Packers mailboxes on Chena Hot Springs Road near Fairbanks and, when zipping into Fred Meyer for groceries, spotted a lot of Packers magnets and decals adorning parked cars. I rarely saw signs of people cheering for other NFL teams: instead, it was all about the Packers.
This was also apparent during my time in Anchorage, the state’s largest city.
Why, 3,300 miles away from Lambeau Field, are Alaskans more aligned with the Packers than the Seattle Seahawks (the geographically closest team)?