While members of the team Executive Board were called up to speak, I and many others studied cloud formations and tested the new wireless capabilities of the stadium. My wife, who works with a lot of area CEOs, watched the presenters with more interest and pointed out that almost all of them were local. I knew that, but as a Green Bay native didn't really find it remarkable. It's what I grew-up expecting. The Packer organization has some Milwaukee, Madison, and Fox Valley names on the board to pretend this is a state team, but the drive behind the organization has always been Green Bay born and raised; Parins, Meng, Long, Chernick, Weyers, Bie, French, Olejniczak and dozens of board members are local names. They are organization leaders, but they are also neighbors.
I bring up this point because of a series of new signs that I saw later posted on walls in the south concourse hallways just under the new, plush South End Zone. The theme of the sepia-tinted wall-sized posters of old players and fans is "We Believe" followed by inspirational sayings. One poster in particular caught my attention: "We believe 360,000 owners are better than one." That refers to the 360,000 shareholders, like me, who have bought basically meaningless stock certificates in order to keep the professional team in Green Bay.
Other small markets, no bigger than Green Bay, had professional teams but gave up on their dreams. We haven't and, Lombardi-willing, we never will. The strength of the team draws on our cultural make-up: stubborn, loyal, faithful, dogged, and capable of amazing things when we are competing against out-of-towners. If the team lost the Green Bay connection, it would be just another sports team run by suits. We take care of our own, and the Packers are our own. As another poster in the concourse declares, "One city, one team."
The 360,000 number celebrates legends in sports history who have built a remarkable franchise. To Green Bay natives, however, these legends are just local folks who we see in the grocery store, the coffee shop and at high school football games. Yet, consider the results: the number one stadium experience according to ESPN magazine, the third largest professional football stadium (the new expansion tops 80,000 seats -- take that, Texas Stadium), and a 30-year season ticket waiting list. And, oh yes, 13 World Championships, 22+ members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (congratulations to this year's inductee, linebacker Dave Robinson), and a playoff contender for 15 of the last 20 years.
Mark Murphy also pointed out during his presentation that the Green Bay Packers are the 18th most valuable sports franchise in the world. Notice I said world, not just in the NFL or in American professional sports, but the world. I'm not surprised though. If you introduce yourself as being from Green Bay in any major airport and you have instant recognition and credibility.
As a shareholder of the best team in football, it's what I expect.
Other small markets, no bigger than Green Bay, had professional teams but gave up on their dreams. We haven't and, Lombardi-willing, we never will. The strength of the team draws on our cultural make-up: stubborn, loyal, faithful, dogged, and capable of amazing things when we are competing against out-of-towners. If the team lost the Green Bay connection, it would be just another sports team run by suits. We take care of our own, and the Packers are our own. As another poster in the concourse declares, "One city, one team."
The 360,000 number celebrates legends in sports history who have built a remarkable franchise. To Green Bay natives, however, these legends are just local folks who we see in the grocery store, the coffee shop and at high school football games. Yet, consider the results: the number one stadium experience according to ESPN magazine, the third largest professional football stadium (the new expansion tops 80,000 seats -- take that, Texas Stadium), and a 30-year season ticket waiting list. And, oh yes, 13 World Championships, 22+ members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (congratulations to this year's inductee, linebacker Dave Robinson), and a playoff contender for 15 of the last 20 years.
Mark Murphy also pointed out during his presentation that the Green Bay Packers are the 18th most valuable sports franchise in the world. Notice I said world, not just in the NFL or in American professional sports, but the world. I'm not surprised though. If you introduce yourself as being from Green Bay in any major airport and you have instant recognition and credibility.
As a shareholder of the best team in football, it's what I expect.
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