Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
Members
Current visitors
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Packers a model for all pro sports
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="JBlood" data-source="post: 336437" data-attributes="member: 16"><p><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/usn/jump/usn.noscript/noscript;sz=728x90;pos=leaderboardA;tile=1;dcopt=ist;ord=000000000?" target="_blank"> <img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/usn/ad/usn.noscript/noscript;sz=728x90;pos=leaderboardA;tile=1;ord=000000000?" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </a> </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Truer words have never been written:</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/susan-milligan" target="_blank">Susan Milligan</a> </strong></p><p></p><p> <strong>Green Bay Packers a Model for NFL, All Pro Sports</strong></p><p></p><p> By <a href="http://www.usnews.com/topics/author/susan_milligan" target="_blank"> Susan Milligan</a> </p><p> Posted: January 24, 2011</p><p> </p><p> <a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2011/01/24/green-bay-packers-a-model-for-nfl-all-pro-sports_print.html" target="_blank"> Print</a> </p><p> </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> <a href="http://button.topsy.com/retweet?nick=usnews&url=http%3A%2F%2Ft.usnews.com%2Fb8E42" target="_blank">retweet</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Share This</li> </ul><p> As we prepare for the celebration of obscene profits, commercialism, and grandstanding so unfortunately displayed in increasing amounts at each Super Bowl, let us give thanks for an exception to the profit-driven madness: the Green Bay Packers.</p><p> You won't see some wealthy owner hosting famous football watchers in an ultra-luxury box for the Packers at the Super Bowl this year. That's because, of course, the Packers, unlike any other NFL team, are owned by individual stockholders. And they're not greedy investors who want the board of directors to make bad long-term business decisions in favor of higher dividends; the funders of the Packers include working people who proudly display framed certificates of partial ownership in their finished-off basements. Stockholders get no dividends, and would receive only what they put in if the team is dissolved. They're not even entitled to an advantage in the competition for season tickets. It's run as a non-profit—a word that is almost heresy in the Super Bowl world of fat endorsement contracts, expensive ad buys, high salaries for players and even higher profits for owners. Its bylaws state, “This association shall be a community project, intended to promote community welfare...its purposes shall be exclusively charitable.” <a href="http://www.usnews.com/politicalcartoons" target="_blank">[Check out a roundup of this month's best political cartoons.]</a></p><p> Yet, despite the prevailing theory that an operation has to be profit-motivated to succeed, the Packers are successful. They've won three Super Bowls and are headed to a fourth. The games consistently sell out. And most importantly, the setup means that the team cannot be outsourced by some capricious owner with an eye on a bigger market and a glitzier stadium. Lambeau Field is owned by the city, and there is realistically no way that the rank-and-file ownership of the Packers will agree to a move—especially since the team is nonprofit.</p><p> How much more enjoyable it would be if every NFL team—even every professional sports team—was run as a non-profit and with close ties to its own community. The Packers are loved by Green Bay, and the team gives back; since tickets to games are so hard to get, the Packers host a Family Night once a year, playing a scrimmage game and giving away their own jerseys (“Jerseys Off Our Backs”) to lucky fans. Green Bay has barely more than 100,000 residents; if the team were owned by someone with a strong profit motive, it's likely the Packers would have relocated long ago. Buffalonians live in constant fear of their team moving to Toronto, a bigger but far less enthusiastic and loyal football market than beleaguered Buffalo offers. A move would not only be psychologically devastating and economically damaging to the region, but it would deprive the league of the remaining romance it has left. Some people fantasize about scoring a big lottery win and retiring on a Caribbean Island. I daydream about winning the lottery, buying the Buffalo Bills, and taking the team public so it would never leave the city that has loved and supported the team, despite a series of tough seasons.</p><p> Whether they win or lose against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, the example of the Green Bay Packers is one the rest of the league should follow.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Copyright © 2011 U.S.News & World Report LP All rights reserved.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JBlood, post: 336437, member: 16"] [URL="http://ad.doubleclick.net/usn/jump/usn.noscript/noscript;sz=728x90;pos=leaderboardA;tile=1;dcopt=ist;ord=000000000?"] [IMG]http://ad.doubleclick.net/usn/ad/usn.noscript/noscript;sz=728x90;pos=leaderboardA;tile=1;ord=000000000?[/IMG] [/URL] [B]Truer words have never been written: [/B] [B][URL="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/susan-milligan"]Susan Milligan[/URL] [/B] [B]Green Bay Packers a Model for NFL, All Pro Sports[/B] By [URL="http://www.usnews.com/topics/author/susan_milligan"] Susan Milligan[/URL] Posted: January 24, 2011 [URL="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2011/01/24/green-bay-packers-a-model-for-nfl-all-pro-sports_print.html"] Print[/URL] [LIST] [*] [URL="http://button.topsy.com/retweet?nick=usnews&url=http%3A%2F%2Ft.usnews.com%2Fb8E42"]retweet[/URL] [*] Share This [/LIST] As we prepare for the celebration of obscene profits, commercialism, and grandstanding so unfortunately displayed in increasing amounts at each Super Bowl, let us give thanks for an exception to the profit-driven madness: the Green Bay Packers. You won't see some wealthy owner hosting famous football watchers in an ultra-luxury box for the Packers at the Super Bowl this year. That's because, of course, the Packers, unlike any other NFL team, are owned by individual stockholders. And they're not greedy investors who want the board of directors to make bad long-term business decisions in favor of higher dividends; the funders of the Packers include working people who proudly display framed certificates of partial ownership in their finished-off basements. Stockholders get no dividends, and would receive only what they put in if the team is dissolved. They're not even entitled to an advantage in the competition for season tickets. It's run as a non-profit—a word that is almost heresy in the Super Bowl world of fat endorsement contracts, expensive ad buys, high salaries for players and even higher profits for owners. Its bylaws state, “This association shall be a community project, intended to promote community welfare...its purposes shall be exclusively charitable.” [URL="http://www.usnews.com/politicalcartoons"][Check out a roundup of this month's best political cartoons.][/URL] Yet, despite the prevailing theory that an operation has to be profit-motivated to succeed, the Packers are successful. They've won three Super Bowls and are headed to a fourth. The games consistently sell out. And most importantly, the setup means that the team cannot be outsourced by some capricious owner with an eye on a bigger market and a glitzier stadium. Lambeau Field is owned by the city, and there is realistically no way that the rank-and-file ownership of the Packers will agree to a move—especially since the team is nonprofit. How much more enjoyable it would be if every NFL team—even every professional sports team—was run as a non-profit and with close ties to its own community. The Packers are loved by Green Bay, and the team gives back; since tickets to games are so hard to get, the Packers host a Family Night once a year, playing a scrimmage game and giving away their own jerseys (“Jerseys Off Our Backs”) to lucky fans. Green Bay has barely more than 100,000 residents; if the team were owned by someone with a strong profit motive, it's likely the Packers would have relocated long ago. Buffalonians live in constant fear of their team moving to Toronto, a bigger but far less enthusiastic and loyal football market than beleaguered Buffalo offers. A move would not only be psychologically devastating and economically damaging to the region, but it would deprive the league of the remaining romance it has left. Some people fantasize about scoring a big lottery win and retiring on a Caribbean Island. I daydream about winning the lottery, buying the Buffalo Bills, and taking the team public so it would never leave the city that has loved and supported the team, despite a series of tough seasons. Whether they win or lose against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, the example of the Green Bay Packers is one the rest of the league should follow. Copyright © 2011 U.S.News & World Report LP All rights reserved. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Members online
Firethorn1001
Latest posts
2026 Roster Thread - Semi-Live
Latest: milani
28 minutes ago
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Movies and TV shows Thread
Latest: milani
34 minutes ago
Movies and Entertainment
M
Christian Watson signs a 4 year 110m extension
Latest: Magooch
Today at 4:05 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Badgers Football 2025-2026
Latest: Voyageur
Today at 2:15 PM
Wisconsin Badgers Forum
Why I Love The 2026-2027 Green Bay Packers
Latest: CarryTheG14
Today at 11:42 AM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Packers a model for all pro sports
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
