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There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic is going to have a significant impact on all 32 NFL teams but the situation the Green Bay Packers find themselves in is perhaps the most unique.
With no billionaire owner and also playing in the league’s smallest market, the Packers are dependent on revenue from fans throughout the year but particularly during the season. The city of Green Bay and the surrounding area in turn depend on the Packers for a big chunk of economic impact.
So what’s happening now with Lambeau Field having been closed to the public for two months and the fate of the 2020 season very much in limbo?
Well, for the Packers themselves, they have nearly $400 million in a reserve fund so they feel fairly confident they can weather this storm. Even if the season happens, there’s a decent chance games will be played without fans which will still do some damage to the team’s bottom line. Team president Mark Murphy however seems confident the team will be just fine.
As for the city of Green Bay and the surrounding area, the outlook is much more grim. Businesses there depend on football to survive and a loss of any significant amount of games could cripple or even destroy some of them. The area is already suffering the loss of many events this summer and losing football could he the final nail in the coffin.
We go into today’s curds not to scare you but to make sure that if you want football this season, and the city of Green Bay to continue to prosper, to please continue to take the necessary safety precautions despite many places starting to reopen. A surge of cases in late summer could doom any NFL football and in turn many businesses in Green Bay.
Packers have $385M in reserve fund to help cover expenses, if needed—ESPN
The Packers set up this fund for the potential loss of local or league revenue and that’s just the exact situation the team could find themselves in.
The fact the NFL plans to play a full season gives a lot of local businesses some reasons for optimism but what if fans aren’t allowed in the stadiums or games are even cancelled? That light could be snuffed out mighty fast.
Packers Hall of Fame Inc. postpones 50th induction banquet to April 17, 2021—Packers.com
Charles Woodson and Al Harris will have to wait a year for their enshrinement in the Packers Hall of Fame, another loss of revenue for the Packers and the hall.
Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos Jr. to sponsor Baltimore food drive Thursday—Baltimore Sun
Yet another member of the Packers is giving back to their hometown. Adrian Amos funded a food drive yesterday that will help countless families during this difficult time.
Five-year-old stopped on U.S. highway wanted to buy Lamborghini, police say—Reuters
Stick to Power Wheels, kid. It’s going to take awhile to save for a Lamborghini.