# Why is it against NFL rules to have a publicly owned team? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-against-nfl-rules-to-have-a-publicly-owned-team/137685 "2002-11-20T03:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-against-nfl-rules-to-have-a-publicly-owned-team/137685/21 "2002-11-20T21:15:05Z")
I think the regulations on corporations ( **jklann** ’s point c) is to eliminate a conflict of interests. Imagine a clothing manufacturer, food vendor, or other related company owning a NFL team. Suddenly that team is getting favors, price breaks, and amenities while other teams are getting late shipments, extra fees, wrong products, etc. It could also be possible for a large company to funnel revenue into it’s team without the league’s consent (accountants can be very creative). Non-profit organizations get numerous tax breaks so that could schewer the revenue sharing in their favor, as **Nametag** mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![nth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-against-nfl-rules-to-have-a-publicly-owned-team/137685/22 "2002-11-20T21:18:30Z")
Green Bay does not issue dividends? What do they do with their profits? ---
**Author:** ![nth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-against-nfl-rules-to-have-a-publicly-owned-team/137685/23 "2002-11-20T21:20:36Z")
i answered my own questions. [http://www.packers.com/shareholders/](http://www.packers.com/shareholders/) duh! they are a non-profit team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-against-nfl-rules-to-have-a-publicly-owned-team/137685.md?page=1)