Green Bay Packers shareholder on what it is like to own part of an NFL team

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Green Bay Packers shareholder on what it is like to own part of an NFL team image

Do Green Bay Packers shareholders think public ownership is an effective ownership strategy for an NFL team? originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and get insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on TwitterFacebook, and Google+.

Answer by Gus Fuldner, Green Bay Packers shareholder

The ownership structure of the Packers is unique. The main purpose of community ownership is to ensure the team says in Green Bay. With a population of about 100,000, it is by far the smallest city in the U.S. with a major professional sports team. Despite this fact, the Packers are a very competitive team.  

Being a shareholder is really more about being a fan/supporter than anything else. It is a non-profit corporation. The shares don't pay dividends and any proceeds from a sale or liquidation of the team go to a charity, not the shareholders. This system, plus transfer restrictions and a cap on the number of shares that any single individual can own, ensure that the team remains in public hands and doesn't leave the city.  

The benefits of being a shareholder:

  • A stock certificate with your name on it (memorabilia)
  • Bragging rights/pride of ownership
  • A (small) say in the management of the team

I am a shareholder of the Packers (I received a share as a Christmas gift in 1997 from my father, who was a big fan). Each year I get a ballot in the mail to vote for members of the board of directors who select an executive committee of seven people who then hire the team management. The management and the board of directors hear from the shareholders (fans) at an annual meeting.  

Despite its non-profit status, shares in the Packers are handled in much the same way as shares of normal public company. The ballot looks the same as a public company proxy and the team uses Bank of New York Mellon as the transfer agent.

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