Written by Gene Zarnick | 16 September 2009

I think every football fan has dreamed of owning a NFL franchise at some time.  We would all love the chance to call the shots, decide on draft picks, or just be able to watch games from the owner’s suite.  No matter your reasoning for wanting to own a team, we realistically know that it’s never going to happen.  It could though; and it should.  Now we may not ever be able to watch our team in the owner’s suite, but I think if a franchise really wants to prosper as a team, an organization, and as a business, then we, the fans of the team, should become the GM’s.

So here’s my idea.  Currently every NFL team except the Green Bay Packers are privately owned teams.  I think an owner should publicly trade 49% of their team and have fans purchase shares of the team.  In turn, the shareholders would be legitimate general managers to the team.  The owner would still have the final say, but each shareholder would get to have their say in most, if not all decisions.  In this technology age, people don’t need to be face to face to discuss issues.  The team could have a web site setup specifically for these shareholders who would get to vote on draft picks, free agent signings, staff hirings/firings, franchise tags, trades, and any other area a typical general manager would deal with.  The owner and a general manager liaison representing the shareholders would then use those results and determine the final decision.  That’s basically it.  You purchase the shares and you become a GM for your NFL team.  Actually, that’s not really all of it.  I’ll explain why this idea would not only succeed, but will also have many other benefits to the organization and shareholders as well.

Anyone who owns stock in a company wants that company to do well.  You get the company’s quarterly report, basically check out how it did last quarter and view the projected outcome for next quarter.  You can attend the shareholder’s meetings and speak your mind and it really won't change how the organization is run at all.  You have some vetting interest in the company, but do you really know what’s going on day in and day out?  No.  NFL fans know what’s going on with their teams.  They know what players are on the practice squad, who was cut, who is up for a new contract, depth at positions, on and on and on, they know more about the team than almost any shareholder knows about the company they are putting their money into.  We all have general manager qualities and as a group of shareholders, we could definitely make some very responsible and reputable decisions for our team.  Most people buy stock because they want to make an investment that will increase over time, shareholders of a NFL team’s main goal would be for the franchise to succeed, and success is the only way to make money.

Now what most people fail to see with the stock market is that it’s a complete gamble.  Most people don’t spend the time to research what they’re buying and they rely on financial planners or investors to spend their money and purchase stocks that they know nothing about.  You would finally get a chance to purchase stock in something you know greatly about and every decision and every week of the season you would be gambling on your team.  How great would it be to watch your team and know that you were part of making it what it is?  How exciting would it be watch each week and to know that if your team wins then your investment is a winner as well?  This gamble of investing in an NFL team would bring fans to an organization and a dedication that has never been seen before.  If the Cowboys or Steelers are America’s team then the first publicly traded team could be the world’s team.  People from all over the world could be part of something special and become a shareholder and have their decision known.  Now we may not get the final decision on if a coach is fired, and we may not get to sit up in the owner’s booth, but we would get a chance to purchase stock in a organization we love, and that’s a risk I’d be willing to take.