Although the Packers announced an operating loss of
just under $420,000 for the FY ended March 31, "other
sources of income and savings helped the team post an
overall profit" of $2.67M, according to Thomas Content of
the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. But the team's profit "was
less than half" of the $6.47M in net income it reported last
year due to rising expenses that included a 16.1% increase
in player salaries and a 9.9% hike in general and
administrative costs. The team's overall operating expenses
last year were $109.2M. The Packers' financial numbers are
included in their annual report, and Content writes that one
reason the team was able to report a profit was due in part
to a "provision for income taxes and gains on the sale of
assets." The team's operating income rose by 5.9% to
$108.8M during the last FY, with home-game ticket income up
by 16.9% to $14.5M. In addition, luxury-box revenue
increased by 30% to $5.7M and marketing and Packer Pro Shop
net income increased by 20.3% to $8.06M. The team's largest
source of income was payments received from the league-wide
TV and local radio deals, which totaled $84.98M, or 78.1% of
the team's operating income (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/27).
A MEATY SITUATION: PETA sent a letter to Packers
President Bob Harlan yesterday asking the team to change its
nickname because it "symbolizes a profession that promotes
bloodshed and harm to animals." PETA's Bruce Friedrich said
in the letter, "No matter how you slice it, the meat
industry is a violent, bloody industry that's bad for both
animals and humans." Friedrich suggested that the team
promote vegetable and fruit consumption by changing its name
to "Pickers" or celebrate its beer brewing history with
"Six-Packers." Harlan said the team has no plans to change
the name (PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/27). FSN's Keith Olbermann:
"Maybe with the Mark Chmura case still alive, 'Six-Packers'
isn't a real sharp idea just now" ("NSR," 6/26).
