It might as well start from the top. The 538,967 shareholders of Green Bay Packers Incorporated stock are, after, all, the owners who nominate and elect a Board of Directors who assemble an executive committee that hires a President who hires a General Manager who hires a coach and, well, you get the idea. The 2023 football season is officially underway as about 7800 shareholders and guests gathered at Lambeau Field today for the franchise’s Annual Shareholders Meeting. The business of running a professional football team was covered in details with committee reports and now it’s time to get down to the business of putting the best football team possible on the field in September.
It’s been an eventful off-season to be sure and upon my first walk this year through the tunnel, past the automatic rising door and onto the lush green of Lambeau Field, the brand new, impressive to say the least, scoreboards were replaying the 2022 NFL Films highlight video. The first name I heard and face I saw on the big board was, yup, Aaron Rodgers. How spooky is that?, I thought. The shadow cast will be long from his franchise record 18 year run.
GM Brian Gutekunst delivered his football report and never mentioned his former quarterback. He didn’t bring up Jordan Love until late in his address but said he’s ready after patiently waiting the last three years.
President and CEO Mark Murphy finally brought up the elephant in the stadium and after some uneasiness in the crowd, paid tribute to Rodgers and said he should be thanked for all the remarkable things he did for the organization and when his playing days are done, he’ll be welcomed back, just like Brett Favre was, to have his number 12 retired to the join the ranks of Favre, Tony Canadeo, Don Hutson, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Reggie White up on the Lambeau facade.
The nearly 90 minute meeting was wrapped up with Brown County Judge John Zakowski delivering his committee report and ending with, “Remember what the Beatles said, all you need is love.”
Which is where the focus will certainly turn once the team hits Ray Nitschke Field on Wednesday.
After the meeting, Murphy met reporters in the media auditorium.
The 90 million dollar Football Operations investment built out the stadium complex in the southeast corner, creating a twice as large indoor walk through and practice field, bringing the players, coaches and personnel departments together under one roof. A new, high tech draft room is also located in the building, built above underground parking for the employees.
I also had a chance to congratulate one of the four new members of the Board of Directors. Packer and Pro Football Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler is the latest in a line of former players who also served the franchise on the board.
The day began with the Packers literally getting into the Cheesehead business. The team announced it had purchased the Foamation Company, the creators and manufacturers of the iconic Cheesehead foam hat. Ralph and Sue Bruno had operated the company since Ralph first donned the wedge of cheese on his head at a Milwaukee Brewers game in 1987. It didn’t take long to catch on and when the Packers resurgence arrived in the 1990’s, Cheeseheads became the must have head gear and millions were sold, enough to stretch across the country if laid side by side. Bruno said after 34 years it was time to pass the torch and nobody sold more Cheeseheads than the Packers Pro Shop so it made perfect sense to have the Packers buy the company. A brand new line of Packer owned Cheese products were unveiled this morning with Pro Shop shelves already stocked.
Mark Murphy announces the Cheesehead purchase.
Shareholders and friends milled about the stadium all day. It is their team after all and that team gathers together for the first time Tuesday when the veterans arrive and the opening practice of the 2023 training camp will be Wednesday morning at 10:30 AM.
The Packers new, north end video scoreboard.
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