NFL team loses money for first time since 1989 as CEO aims to use iconic stadium to bridge gap

The Green Bay Packers offers a unique insight into NFL finances as the only publicly-owned team.

Its latest financial results, show a record $753 million in total revenue for the last fiscal year, which ended on March 31.

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The Packers‘ operating income fell from an $83.7 million gain to a $1.1 million loss, however.

Restructuring player contracts and Micah Parsons‘ arrival via a trade from the Dallas Cowboys, which led to a $188 million deal with a $44 million signing bonus, contributed to an $131.7 million increase in player costs.

Green Bay also lost out on a home game with just eight in 2025 due to the NFL‘s schedule rotation.

“I feel very good about where the Packers are financially and economically in the short term and the medium term,” said president and CEO Ed Policy.

“In the long term, I feel good. But I do think that there are some trends we’re recognizing in the NFL and we talked about some of those that I think can pose a threat to our long-term financial health.”

As a small-market team, the Packers are always going to be fighting to keep pace with the likes of the Cowboys — the most valuable franchise in world sports.

It was the first time the team had posted a loss since the 1989 season — barring the COVID-hit 2020 campaign games played behind closed doors — and there were a number of mitigating factors.

Packers’ leap of faith on Lambeau

Policy, who will soon lay out his vision for shareholders, is hoping to use Lambeau Field to help bridge the gap.

“We are focusing on having more major events — non-Packers games at Lambeau Field,” he said, via NBC 26.

“They’re good for us. They do generate revenue, but they’re also great for our community and for the regional and local economy.

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“We do want to focus a little more on college football games and premier soccer games.

“They’re just a little bit easier on our field and easier for the field to bounce back from. But we will host concerts from time to time.

“So we are putting more effort toward those events. Very excited about having the Notre Dame-Wisconsin game coming here on September 6th. But we’ll continue to look at those.

“There’ll be college football games, premier soccer games, there could be a winter event coming up. We’ll see, we’re working on that potentially.”

The Packers’ ownership model has lasted since 1923.

There will always be pressure, especially in an age when franchises are being sold for close to $10 billion, but the Packers have always liked doing things differently.

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Lambeau Field will soon be the oldest stadium in the NFL as the Chicago Bears leave Soldier Field behind.

After losing Parsons to injury, 9-7-1 Green Bay lost out to the bitter rival Bears in the race for the NFC North title last season.

With the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions also posting winning records in 2025, there is not much room for error in one of the strongest divisions in the NFL.