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Cheese League

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The Cheese League
SportAmerican football
No. of teams6
Countries United States
Map depicting where participating franchises held training camp when they were a part of the 'Cheese League'

The Cheese League was the informal name given to the National Football League teams that held their training camps and scrimmages in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Cheese League reached its apex in 1995 with six NFL teams. Drawn by the milder summers, an escape from the distractions of home, and great facilities, these teams retreated to college towns in Wisconsin to prepare for the NFL season.[1] The league had its strongest participation throughout the 1990s with five teams, peaking in 1995 with six teams thanks to the participation of the Jacksonville Jaguars for a single year. This proximity allowed the teams to practice with and scrimmage against one another - allowing for a nice change of pace and more realistic preparation for the regular season.[2] Despite this perk, as well as the cooler summer weather, the non-local teams eventually decided that it was politically and logistically wiser to host training camp in their home states.[3][4] With the Minnesota Vikings announcing that the 2017 training camp would be their last in Mankato, all six former members of the Cheese League will now hold camp in the same metro area that they are located.[5]

Teams

[edit]
Team Location Campus
Chicago Bears[6] Platteville, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Platteville
Green Bay Packers[7] De Pere, Wisconsin St. Norbert College
Jacksonville Jaguars[8] Stevens Point, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Kansas City Chiefs[9] River Falls, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–River Falls
Minnesota Vikings[10] Mankato, Minnesota Minnesota State University, Mankato
New Orleans Saints[11] La Crosse, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Participation timeline

[edit]
Jacksonville JaguarsKansas City ChiefsNew Orleans SaintsChicago BearsMinnesota VikingsGreen Bay Packers

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cheese League will remain just a fond memory - FOX Sports". 12 June 2012.
  2. ^ Young, David (1991-08-04). "Summer 'Cheese League' boosts tourism in Wisconsin, Minnesota". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  3. ^ "USATODAY.com - Cheese League dwindling in size". usatoday30.usatoday.com.
  4. ^ Press, The Mankato Free (5 August 2013). "The Cheese League is long gone".
  5. ^ "Minnesota Vikings, Mankato part ways after one final training camp beginning next week". Star Tribune.
  6. ^ "Chicago Bears Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Green Bay Packers Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Jacksonville Jaguars Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "New Orleans Saints Training Camp Locations - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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