The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly-owned franchise in the NFL, something which makes them very special. Considered to be one of their greatest legacies, the ownership is based in the community rather than a solo wealthy individual.

And now, for the first time in almost a decade, it's possible to snap up some Packers stock for yourself.

Launched in November and only lasting until February 2022, there is a limited window to buy Packers’ stock. This is only the sixth time in history that the Packers have offered stock for sale - so should you be getting your greens out for the greens?

What is the Stock Sale?

As a publicly owned team, the Packers don't have a wealthy owner to dip their hand into their pocket every time they need investment. This means that they need to come up with more creative and alternative methods of raising capital by turning to the local community.

The NFL has stringent rules about how funds can be raised and what it can be spent on. For example, the Packers wouldn't be allowed to sell stock to pay for players or their wages.  But the franchise is permitted to sell off stock to raise money for other expenses, which is what they've decided to do this year.

The latest stock opportunity is only the sixth time in their history that the Packers have offered stock to buy. The window of opportunity is brief, and after four short months, there will be no facility to purchase Packers' stock - until they offer up a sale again. Considering it's been around ten years since the last stock sale, these opportunities don't come up very often. Little wonder then that Packers' fans have been snapping up the stock, raising $41.1 million in under a week.

Each of the shares is worth $300 each, with 33,000 sold in the first three hours. Only individuals or couples can purchase; the stock isn't for sale to big investment firms. But then, big investment firms probably wouldn't be interested as this is a different type of stock. It doesn't acquire value and doesn't pay out dividends.

Owners of the stock will receive special merchandise and an invite to the AGM (with limited voting rights). For a Packers fan, that will be enough - but if you’re considering buying the stock as an investment, you’ll be wasting your time.

Previous Stock Sales

Just a quick peek at one of the big long-standing betting sites, bwin, you can see both events on and off the field does affect results throughout the season and pre-season. And this, in turn, can impact revenue, a crucial matter for any NFL team.

The good news for the Packers is that they have incredibly loyal fans who are keen to strengthen their links with the club in any way possible.

This stock sale has been created to raise money to develop Lambeau Field, including new concourses and video boards.

The previous stock sales were in 1923, 1935 and 1950 and were necessary to prop up the fledgling team as they became established. The sale in 1997 enabled Lambeau Field to be completely renovated, while in 2011, the stock sell-off paid for a new viewing platform and entrance tower, raising $67.4 million.

It’s hoped that by the time this stock sale finishes, the Packers will have raised close to $90 million.