[the OlLine Rebel]

“They are owned by the people of Wisconsin,”

What I want to know is this:

TAXPAYERS,

or genuine fans only?

Because even if it’s local, if I couldn’t care less about football I wouldn’t want to be funding this with $1, either!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Fans. I suppose the taxpayers kick in on traffic control, etc. It’s a zoo in Green Bay on game days, but everybody is really well behaved. They start their games telling the assembled fans that there will be NO SWEARING. It makes a memorable day, and I don’t even particularly like football. Going to Lambeau Field is like going to Disneyland for Football Freaks.

[GunRunner]

The Packers are relatively unique because fans can actually buy shares in the team, kind of like stock. They don't pay dividends, but to answer your question, it's a truly fan-owned team.

You can buy shares on the Packer site and they'll send you an ownership certificate:

Packer Shareholders

Green Bay Packers, Inc., has been a publicly owned, nonprofit corporation since Aug. 18, 1923, when original articles of incorporation were filed with Wisconsin’s secretary of state.

A total of 4,750,937 shares is owned by 112,158 stockholders none of whom receives any dividend on the initial investment.

The corporation is governed by a board of directors and a seven member executive committee.