Are the Green Bay Packers Socialists?

Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2015

Marquette Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 15-12

54 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2015 Last revised: 21 Aug 2015

See all articles by Matthew J. Parlow

Matthew J. Parlow

Chapman University, The Dale E. Fowler School of Law

Anne-Louise Mittal

Marquette University - Law School

Date Written: July 8, 2015

Abstract

The Green Bay Packers are an oft-misunderstood organization — not in the decisions that the Packers make, but in their legal status and structure. Scholars, commentators, and even the general public refer to the Packers as “community-owned.” While this characterization is true — to a degree — the specifics of this unique ownership structure in professional sports have never been comprehensively documented and analyzed. Perhaps this is the reason that some political pundits have termed the Packers “socialists.” However, such commentators also seem to not fully appreciate the historical development, and contemporary understanding, of this social, economic, and political ideology. This confluence of confusion has led to the misapplication of the term socialism to the Green Bay Packers. This article seeks to set the record straight.

Keywords: sports law, professional sports, ownership structure, organization, Green Bay Packers, socialism, nonprofit

Suggested Citation

Parlow, Matthew J. and Mittal, Anne-Louise, Are the Green Bay Packers Socialists? (July 8, 2015). Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2015, Marquette Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 15-12, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2628250

Matthew J. Parlow (Contact Author)

Chapman University, The Dale E. Fowler School of Law ( email )

One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866-1099
United States
714.628.2649 (Phone)

Anne-Louise Mittal

Marquette University - Law School ( email )

Eckstein Hall
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201
United States

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