Cheeseheads in San Antonio: Alamo City home to growing Green Bay Packers fan club

In the past 10 years, the Alamo City Cheeseheads have grown immensely as the Green Bay Packers fan club went from a group of eight strangers to now more than 400 members. In the past 10 years, the Alamo City Cheeseheads have grown immensely as the Green Bay Packers fan club went from a group of eight strangers to now more than 400 members. Photo: George Gonzalez Photo: George Gonzalez Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Cheeseheads in San Antonio: Alamo City home to growing Green Bay Packers fan club 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

George Gonzalez, the president and co-founder of the Alamo City Cheeseheads, said he did not expect the fan club would turn into a "legitimate" non-profit organization that has two main focuses: charity work and celebrating "the best damn team in the NFL."

In 10 years, the group that formed to cheer on the Green Bay Packers 1,400 miles away in San Antonio has grown from eight strangers to more than 400 members.

Back in 2009, the eight founding members met each other at Fatso's, a local sports bar in San Antonio that is now closed. Initially, Gonzalez said the group would only see one another on Sundays. After several games, however, they began to become more like a family.

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From birthday parties to casual weeknight dinners, the eight Packers fans grew close and other cheeseheads began to notice. Cheeseheads are a nickname given to Packers fans.

"We would be out and see other Packer fans, and all of us would just get along right way," Gonzalez said. "That's when we all kind of decided to try to build a fan club in San Antonio."

In the first few years, the fan club had around 60 to 80 members attending their events. When the organization continued to grow, Gonzalez said that's when he knew he had to find a place where the cheeseheads could create a Lambeau Field-type atmosphere. Gonzalez found that location at Ricky Bobby's, a sports bar on the city's North Side.

"We have decorations set up there all season long. We listen to music after every quarter. We do the same chants as they would at a Packers game. We yell, we cheer and just have a fun, energetic time," Gonzalez said.

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Not only does the group cheer on the Green Bay Packers, but is also donates a large part of its membership dues to a local charity. This year, the organization teamed up with The Children's Shelter of San Antonio. The dues, which vary from $15 to $55, also go to raffles, giveaways and prizes, Gonzalez said.

"We try to do a lot of great stuff for the community and our members," he said. "Our wives honestly are the backbone of this group. They are the ones that put together all the events and fundraisers."

Miguel Acevedo, a four-year member, said he and his wife found their closet friends after joining the organization, adding it's an "awesome thing getting to know the other members and seeing their children grow up."

Whether it's watching the games together or volunteering with one another, the group is "one giant family" that will support each other no matter what, Gonzalez said.

"Packers fans are very different from other fans," Gonzalez said. "We aren't wild and crazy. I mean, we do drink a lot but we don't get out of hand. This organization just brings us all together so we can celebrate a team we all love together."

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre