I mentioned before I grew up in Green Bay, Wis., but for this post it bears repeating. As a born and raised resident of Titletown my perception of what it means to be from an NFL city is skewed. I grew up assuming every other city with a NFL franchise produced fans with the same furious loyalty as the Packers. They don’t. I say this not to take away from the dedication of other teams’ fans but it is just not the same.
Look at last week’s stock sale to help pay for expansions to Lambeau Field. In 48 hours, almost three-fourths of the shares were sold and they have until February to sell the remaining! Now it’s important to note owning stock in the Packers doesn’t have the same perks as having stock in other companies. While ownership in the Packers does give shareholders voting rights, it doesn’t increase in value, no dividends paid annually, and no ticket privileges! Basically, buying stock in the Packers is equal to giving them money and expecting nothing, except the feeling of ownership, in return. (Specifically, they are giving them $250 a share with nothing in return!)
Could any other team expect the same turnout? In my opinion, no. It is a testament to the brand the Packers have built. It’s the only team in the NFL that is community owned, which allows fans to be invested, not only financially but personally. Again, I am not trying to take away from loyalty of other teams’ fans. I am merely pointing out the uniqueness of the Packers brand and how it resonates with fans.
Consider the issue the Minnesota Vikings are facing. Without a new stadium, the owners are threatening to move the franchise to LA. This would never happen in Green Bay, partially because the Packers can’t leave and partially because the fans would never allow it. Green Bay needs the Packers, that’s obvious, but the Packers need Green Bay just as much. Belonging to a small community gives the Packers a special standing in their community other teams in larger markets can’t duplicate.