| The Green Bay Packers are a professional | | | | Packers, however, have long had a large |
| American football team based in Green | | | | following throughout Wisconsin and the |
| Bay, Wisconsin. They are currently | | | | Midwest; in fact, for decades, the |
| members of the North Division of the | | | | Packers played four (one pre-season, |
| National Football Conference (NFC) in | | | | three regular-season) home games each |
| the National Football League (NFL). | | | | year in Milwaukee, first at the State |
| The Packers are the last remaining | | | | Fair Park fairgrounds, then at Milwaukee |
| example of the "small town teams" that | | | | County Stadium. The Packers did not move |
| comprised a majority of the NFL during | | | | their entire home schedule to Green Bay |
| the 1920s. Green Bay is by far the | | | | until 1995. |
| smallest media market to be the home of | | | | The reason for ending the series of |
| a North American major professional | | | | Milwaukee games, according to former |
| sports league team (though their fanbase | | | | team president Robert Harlan, was the |
| includes Milwaukee, most of Wisconsin, | | | | larger capacity of Lambeau Field and the |
| and cheeseheads scattered throughout the | | | | availability of luxury boxes, which were |
| United States). | | | | not available at Milwaukee County |
| Founded in 1919 by former high school | | | | Stadium.[citation needed] County |
| football rivals Curly Lambeau and George | | | | Stadium's replacement, Miller Park, then |
| Whitney Calhoun as a new version of the | | | | being planned, was always intended to be |
| semi-pro town teams that had been | | | | a baseball-only stadium instead of a |
| playing in Green Bay since 1896, the | | | | multipurpose stadium. |
| Packers turned professional and joined | | | | Based on the original "Articles of |
| the League in 1921. | | | | Incorporation for the (then) Green Bay |
| Today, the team holds the record for | | | | Football Corporation" put into place in |
| most NFL league championships with 12: | | | | 1923, if the Packers franchise was sold, |
| nine NFL Championships prior to the | | | | after the payment of all expenses, any |
| Super Bowl era; three additional titles | | | | remaining monies would go to the |
| in 1966,1967,1996, after which they | | | | Sullivan-Wallen Post of the American |
| defeated the American Football League | | | | Legion in order to build "a proper |
| American Football Conference champion in | | | | soldier's memorial." This stipulation |
| Super Bowl I, Super Bowl II; and Super | | | | was enacted to ensure the club remained |
| Bowl XXXI. The team has a fierce, | | | | in Green Bay and that there could never |
| long-standing rivalry with the Chicago | | | | be any financial enhancement for the |
| Bears, whom they have played in over 170 | | | | shareholders. At the November 1997 |
| games.[2] The team also holds the | | | | annual meeting, shareholders voted to |
| distinction of winning the first two | | | | change the beneficiary from the |
| AFL-NFL Championship Games that were | | | | Sullivan-Wallen Post to the Green Bay |
| held before the AFL-NFL Merger, later | | | | Packers Foundation. |
| referred to as Super Bowl I and II. | | | | In 1950, the Packers held a stock sale |
| The Packers are currently the only | | | | to again raise money to support the |
| non-profit, community owned major league | | | | team. In 1956, area voters approved the |
| professional sports team in the United | | | | construction of a new city owned |
| States. Currently, a total of 4,750,925 | | | | stadium. As with its predecessor, the |
| shares are owned by 111,967 stockholders | | | | new field was named City Stadium, but |
| — none of whom receive any dividend. | | | | after the death of founder Lambeau in |
| The Green Bay Packers were founded on | | | | 1965, on September 11, 1965, the stadium |
| August 11, 1919 by Curly Lambeau and | | | | was renamed Lambeau Field. |
| Green Bay Press-Gazette sports editor | | | | Another stock sale occurred late in 1997 |
| George Whitney Calhoun. Lambeau | | | | and early in 1998. It added 105,989 new |
| solicited funds for uniforms from his | | | | shareholders and raised over $24 |
| employer, the Indian Packing Company. He | | | | million, money used for the Lambeau |
| was given $500 for uniforms and | | | | Field redevelopment project. Priced at |
| equipment, on the condition that the | | | | $200 per share, fans bought 120,010 |
| team be named for its sponsor. Today | | | | shares during the 17-week sale, which |
| "Green Bay Packers" is the oldest team | | | | ended March 16, 1998. As of June 8, |
| name still in use in the NFL. | | | | 2005, 111,921 people (representing |
| The Packers became a professional | | | | 4,749,925 shares) can lay claim to a |
| franchise in 1921. Financial troubles | | | | franchise ownership interest. Shares of |
| plagued the team and the franchise was | | | | stock include voting rights, but the |
| lost the same year. The Packers found | | | | redemption price is minimal, no |
| new backers the next year and regained | | | | dividends are ever paid, the stock |
| the franchise. The financial backers, | | | | cannot appreciate in value, and stock |
| known as the "Hungry Five," formed the | | | | ownership brings no season ticket |
| Green Bay Football Corporation. | | | | privileges. No shareholder may own over |
| The Packers are now the only publicly | | | | 200,000 shares, a safeguard to ensure |
| owned company with a board of directors | | | | that no individual can assume control of |
| in American professional sports | | | | the club. To run the corporation, a |
| (although other teams are directly owned | | | | board of directors is elected by the |
| by publicly traded companies, such as | | | | stockholders. The board of directors in |
| the Atlanta Braves (Time Warner), the | | | | turn elect a seven-member Executive |
| Chicago Cubs (Tribune Company), New York | | | | Committee (officers) of the corporation, |
| Rangers (Cablevision), the Seattle | | | | consisting of a president, vice |
| Mariners (Nintendo of America), and the | | | | president, treasurer, secretary and |
| Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers | | | | three members-at-large. The president is |
| Communications)). Typically, a team is | | | | the only officer to draw compensation; |
| owned by one person, partnership, or | | | | the balance of the committee is sitting |
| corporate entity; thus, a "team owner." | | | | "gratis." |
| It has been speculated that this is one | | | | The team's elected president represents |
| of the reasons the Green Bay Packers | | | | the Packers in NFL owners meetings |
| have never been moved from the city of | | | | unless someone else is designated. |
| Green Bay, a city of only 102,313 people | | | | During his time as coach, Vince Lombardi |
| in the 2000 census. | | | | generally represented the team at league |
| By comparison, the typical NFL football | | | | meetings in his role as general manager, |
| city is populated in the millions. The | | | | except at owners-only meetings. |