If you have ever been lucky enough to secure Green Bay Packers tickets, then you understand just how special they are and how rare it is that the opportunity arises to see a game at Lambeau Field. Current estimates indicate that the waiting list for season tickets is 40 years in duration, and the team holds a special place in the hearts of fans both locally and worldwide. The organization is unique in many ways, and below we'll examine what makes this team so special.



Ownership

The Packers were founded in 1919, and their original corporate sponsor was the ACME Meat Packing plant. The team was consistent with others at that time - funded by a company and small in terms of roster size and attendance at games. The Packers traveled around the Midwest playing other teams such as the Canton Bulldogs and the Decatur Staleys, who would ultimately become their arch-rival, the Chicago Bears.

The team struggled financially, and as a result they needed to raise cash for operating expenses. The management team of the Packers, including Curly Lambeau, decided to offer a stock sale to the surrounding citizens in order to raise the necessary funds to keep the team alive. Hence, in 1923, the Packers became a closed corporation with thousands of shareholders as the official owners of the team.

This arrangement remains in place today, as additional stock sales were held in the 1950's and 1990's to fund new stadiums. The shares are not open for sale to other owners, and no dividends are paid to the shareholders. This is the only professional sports team in the United States with such an ownership scenario, and is probably the main reason the team continues to play in one of the smallest major professional sports markets in the world.

Success

Although the town already loved their team like no other, the ownership status has given fans a "vested" interest in the success of the team. Needless to say, from an historical perspective, the Packers have not disappointed their "owners." The Packers have won 12 NFL championships, which is more than any other football team in history. These titles came in bunches and under legendary coaches with rosters filled with great players, and the demand for Green Bay Packers tickets today still has much to do with their success through the decades.

The first legendary coach was Lambeau, as he guided the team to six championships in 15 years between 1929 and 1944. Those teams featured several all-time greats, including Don Hutson, whose records stood for decades after he retired, Tony Canadeo and Cecil Isbell, all of whom are remembered to this day.

The second member of the legendary coach trilogy was Vince Lombardi, who guided the team to five championships in seven years which included wins in the first two Super Bowls. Lombardi was such a legendary figure that his name appears on the Super Bowl trophy that every team fights for every year. Lombardi's team included the likes of Willie Davis, Paul Hornung and Bart Starr, among several other Hall of Fame players and All-Pros.

The final member of the coaching legends list is Mike Holmgren, who took a team that had been struggling for decades and guided them to a Super Bowl in 1996. Led by greats including Brett Favre and Reggie White, the team rekindled the long-lasting love affair between the team and the city.

Overall, Green Bay Packers tickets will always be difficult to find, as the team and its success is as unique as any team in professional sports.