Green Bay Packers: “‘The People’s Team”‘

For decades I’ve cringed whenever I heard the Dallas Cowboys referred to as “America’s Team”. For decades I swerved between suffering and schadenfreude over the NFL’s Washington R@$#… / WFT/Commanders… under their billionaire owners.

But my growing cynicism has expanded across all U.S. professional sports (NFL, MLB, NHL, and the NCAA ) are reaching a crescendo.  My biggest cringes are saved for the hypocrisy / of the leagues and their owners who, on one hand refer to their teams as “part of the social fabric” of their community, while at another time holding these same communities (and their state governments…) hostage to threats of relocation to another community if their demands for public funding for newer, bigger, more profitable stadiums. 

Let’s look at the Washington Nationals. Twenty years ago when MLB relocated the Montreal Expos after 2004 season, the leagues search committee first priority was to find a community that would use public funding (mainly through bond debts) to fund a new stadium.  In Washington’s case, this amounted to over $600million in revenue bonds by the District of Columbia government. 

Step Two was to identify potential ownership groups to bid on the price of the team. The District government was not included for consideration as a member of — partial stakeholder — any of the ownership groups vying for the team. IMHO, $600M seems like a significant share of the final asking price, maybe even the single biggest minority shareholder under the current group.

If “‘ horse racing is the sport of Kings,”‘ then these professional leagues are the sport of oligarchs.

But there’s a better way. Consider this the “public option” for pro sports (see the national health care debate).

The Green Bay Packers operate under a unique business model in professional sports, known as community ownership. Unlike most teams owned by wealthy individuals or corporations, the Packers are owned by shareholders, who are fans of the team. However, these shares do not appreciate in value, pay dividends, or provide any other financial benefit. Instead, they grant voting rights, which allow shareholders to participate in electing a board of directors who oversee team operations. This model ensures community involvement and support, as well as financial stability for the franchise. The Packers have sold shares on several occasions to raise funds for stadium improvements and other expenses, but these shares cannot be traded on any established market.

However, leagues like the NFL have ownership rules make it difficult for community-owned teams to operate within the league.

According to NFL rules, a team’s principal owner must own at least 30% of the team, and that individual or entity must have control over the team’s operations. Additionally, there are restrictions on the number of owners and the types of entities that can own a team. These rules effectively limit the possibility of community ownership within the NFL, as it would be challenging for a large group of shareholders to meet these requirements and operate the team effectively.

While the Green Bay Packers are an exception to this rule due to their grandfathered status (they were established before the NFL’s current ownership rules), it would be difficult for a new team to adopt a community ownership model and gain entry into the NFL under the current regulations.

Further research suggestion -From ChatGPT–

… to locate case studies on the Green Bay Packers, especially with respect to their unique community-owned structure, you can consider the following strategies:

1. **University Libraries**: Certain universities with prominent sports management programs may have developed case studies on the Green Bay Packers. You can reach out to these institutions, like Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management or Columbia’s Sports Management program, to inquire about access to their resources.

2. **Harvard Business Publishing**: This publisher offers a vast collection of business case studies and might have covered the Packers. Their catalog is searchable, and purchasing is straightforward for educators and students.

3. **Sports Business Journals**: These publications often conduct in-depth analyses that are case-study-like in their content and are more publicly accessible.

4. **National Football League (NFL) Resources**: The NFL has research and business analysis departments that might provide internal case studies or business analysis documents, some of which could potentially cover the Green Bay Packers.

5. **Google Scholar**: This free search engine for scholarly literature can sometimes yield results in the form of theses, dissertations, or research papers that act as in-depth case studies.

6. **Business School Associations**: Groups such as the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) may have directories or listings of case studies that could lead you to one specific to the Packers.

7. **Professional Networking**: LinkedIn and academic networking sites can be useful. Connect with professionals who specialize in sports management or educators who teach related courses; they might be able to point you in the direction of relevant case study material or even provide copies if they have the rights to do so.

When searching, consider using terms like “Green Bay Packers organizational structure”, “Green Bay Packers business model”, “Green Bay Packers community ownership”, or “NFL team ownership case study” to refine your searches.