Green Bay Packers president/CEO says adjustments may be necessary as the NFL鈥檚 only publicly owned franchise attempts to remain financially competitive in the long term.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like other teams have access to this ATM machine that we just don鈥檛 have right now,鈥� Policy said Friday as the Packers released their annual expenses and revenues for the 2026 fiscal year, three days before the organization holds its annual
The Packers reported an operating loss for the first time in a non-pandemic year since the 1990 fiscal year, though the team鈥檚 overall net income was up 54.8%. The Packers had $132.5 million in net income due to the $133.6 million they received in nonoperating revenues, which included gains in corporate investments plus their share from ESPN鈥檚 purchase of NFL Network.
Each of the NFL鈥檚 32 teams received $453.2 million from the NFL, which mainly comes from the league鈥檚 TV contracts.
In operating costs, the Packers reported $753 million in revenues and $754.1 million in expenses. Revenues were up 4.7%, but expenses increased 18.7%.
Policy said the rise in expenses was due to a $130 million increase in player costs. All-Pro edge rusher from the Dallas Cowboys last year and signed him to a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed. They also accelerated payments to some players who were traded.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to be more aggressive with revenue generation going forward,鈥� Policy said. 鈥淲e all know the cost of competing in the NFL is going up, and other teams have access to capital sources that we just don鈥檛 have.鈥�
Policy noted that the ability of other NFL franchises to sell minority interests in their team puts the Packers at a potential disadvantage in the long run.
鈥淔or example, a team can sell 5 to 10% of their equity without giving up any controlling interest in the team, and they could raise more money than we have in our capital reserve fund in just a matter of months,鈥� Policy said.
Policy emphasized the Packers have no plans to sell naming rights to Lambeau Field, but they are willing to do that with their practice facility. The football field at Titletown 鈥� the development just west of Lambeau Field featuring offices, shops, restaurants and apartments 鈥� already has been renamed Emplify Health Field under a new sponsorship deal.
The Packers also are planning more events at Lambeau Field similar to the Luke Combs concerts that happened in May and the Notre Dame-Wisconsin football game that will take place Sept. 6.
鈥淚 feel very good about the Packers鈥� financial strength and condition in the medium term and the short term, certainly,鈥� Policy said. 鈥淏ut we are keeping a very close eye on some of these long-term trends, looking at how they impact us and our financial health in the long term.
鈥淲e do have to make sure that we鈥檙e always in a position where we can continue to invest wisely in whatever it takes to field a championship-caliber team, whether that鈥檚 player costs, football staff or facilities.鈥�
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