“Green Bay Packers Inc., has been a publicly owned, nonprofit corporation since Aug. 18, 1923” and are currently the only publicly owned sports franchise in North America. The team is run by a board of directors and an executive committee. “Fans have supported the team financially through five stock sales: 1923, 1935, 1950, 1997 and 2011.”
The other teams in the NFL are held to rule that has been in place since the 1950s. This rule requires “a franchise 's largest owner to possess minimum percentage of shares, and only Green Bay was grandfathered in.” To purchase a portion of the Packers, it costs $250 a share. The stock pays no dividends , is not tradable, has a no securities-law protection, and shareholders do not benefit from
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They have little to no say in team decisions and their stake in the team provides them with no profit. "Even if the team should ever be sold, shareholders will not receive a slice of the purchasing price, or even get their initial investments back. Any profits from the sale of the team will go to the Packers ' charitable foundation in Green Bay. "
All that being said, I think that the NFL should change the rule and allow other teams to go public, enabling fans to purchase a portion of their teams. This should only occur if the league makes provisions that require qualified individuals to be in decision-making positions within the organization. This will prevent the occurrence of a “too many hats” problem, which is when there are too many differing opinions that prevent constructive decision making from transpiring.
Additionally, teams should attempt to follow Green Bay’s example when establishing guidelines. Potential shareholders must understand that they are purchasing common stock, which is not stock as most people understand it. “It can 't go down, it can 't go up, you can 't sell it, and you can 't cash in.” This must all be explained to prospective shareholders. If purchasers clearly understand exactly what they are buying and that they are essentially, making a donation and still choose to do so, then they should be