Packers Say Higher Player Costs Lessened '07 Team Profit

Packers' '07 Profits Decrease Despite Increase In Operating Revenue

MIDDLE OF THE PACK: The Packers also said that "operating profit declined 37[%] to $21.4[M] in the most recent season because of rising player costs, but investments boosted net income." NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw: "Net income went to $23[M], poor little Green Bay. This is why [the NFL does not] want public disclosure of their numbers. If this is the middle, based on the size of the Green Bay market, what is the top?" SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL'S Daniel Kaplan notes the Packers' results were "helped again by a rise in leaguewide NFL money from sponsorships, licensing, and satellite TV and radio." The figure, "categorized as other national revenue," after rising 74% in '06, rose another 26% in the year ended March 31, 2008, to nearly $33M. Extrapolated over 32 teams, "that means the NFL distributed $1.05[B] from these sources, compared with $480[M] just two years ago" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/23 issue). However, Murphy said, "Expenses are growing faster than revenues. That is growing at a faster rate than national revenue and that is really a concern for us. That's at the crux of why the league owners opted out of the [CBA]. And as we look to the future, you have real concerns when costs are rising at such a fast rate" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/22).

NEW ADDITIONS: The Packers next month "plan to add just two members to their 45-member" BOD. Former NFLer Al Toon has been nominated for a term that expires in 2010, and PDQ Manufacturing of De Pere President Charles Lieb has been nominated for a full three-year term that expires in 2011 (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/21).

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