The Green Bay Packers remain one of the NFL's flagship franchises. But according to team president and CEO Ed Policy, they're also playing by a different set of financial rules than everyone else.
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Speaking Friday, Policy acknowledged that Green Bay doesn't have access to the same sources of capital as many other NFL teams.
"It's like other teams have access to this ATM machine that we just don't have right now," Policy said, via the New York Post.
The Packers are unique among NFL franchises because they're publicly owned. Unlike privately owned teams, Green Bay can't simply sell minority ownership stakes or tap into private equity investments to generate additional capital.
That reality is becoming more noticeable as the cost of running an NFL franchise continues to climb.
"We're going to have to be more aggressive with revenue generation going forward," Policy said. "We all know the cost of competing in the NFL is going up."
The comments came after the Packers reported operating at a slight loss for the first time since 1990, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020 season. Green Bay reported $753 million in revenue and $754.1 million in expenses during its latest fiscal year.
Despite that, the organization remains on solid financial footing, according to Policy, who emphasized the team is committed to investing in players, coaches and facilities.
One thing that isn't changing? Lambeau Field. Policy also said the Packers have no plans to sell naming rights to one of the NFL's most iconic stadiums.
For a franchise built on tradition, some things still aren't for sale.
