What is the only non-profit community owned professional sports team in the United States?

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, dating back to 1919, and is the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Home games have been played at Lambeau Field since 1957.

The Packers are the last of the "small town teams" which were common in the NFL during the 1920s and 30s. Founded in 1919 by Earl "Curly" Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the franchise traces its lineage to other semi-professional teams in Green Bay dating back to 1896. Between 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed against other semi-pro clubs from around Wisconsin and the Midwest, before joining the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the forerunner of today's NFL, in 1921.

Although Green Bay is by far the smallest major league professional sports market in North America, its local fan and media base extends 120 miles south into Milwaukee, where it played selected home games between 1933 and 1994. And despite its small market, Forbes ranked the Packers as the world's 26th most valuable sports franchise in 2016, with a value of $2.35 billion.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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37 Comments

Steven Ernest Scott

I can truly say this! FIRST I see the number one in the circle! I AM FIRST! So many people say "First", even though they aren't!! I AM TRULY FIRST! I NEVER thought I would be able to say that! {In case you couldn't tell, I am super-excited about this!}

Gayle Rutledge Arnold

I can honestly say that I learned something new today. I kept looking for the answer which read 'NONE OF THE ABOVE', LOL. It's too bad that more teams couldn't be owned that way, maybe games and merchandise wouldn't be so expensive if ALL the teams were owned by non-profit organizations! I thought these comments were suppose to be about the questions and information, not a bragging post. Guess I learned 2 But, congratulations Steven Scott, don't know or care where I am as I play for fun and knowledge, but KUDOS!

George Oliver Prince

Known fact for us football nuts

Patti Robb

Go Pack Go!

rmcnsre

Explanation doesn’t really “explain” how the Packers are community owned.

Stephen Forest

Heard about this somewhere. I'm pretty sure the players don't donate their time, although that would be awesome too.

jack patti go

They won last night againstvthe Bears?! First real game, of the football season!

Christopher John Goddard

I know nothing about American football, but I did know this!!

docluci

Good going, guys!!!!!

Lora Austin

I’m a proud owner of Packers stock

Lynne Zeman

Steven Ernest Scott, I think you need to stretch your boundaries and get a life.

Lynne Zeman

Odd to think one can buy stock in a sports team. Way cool.

Karen Wydeven

rmcnsre, it also says that fans stretch all the way to Milwaukee--big deal. Actually, the fan base is nationwide; there are places to watch games "Packer bars" all over the country. No rich guy owns the team. Nice change. Season ticket holder here (also a very long waiting list for that so I feel lucky)