
The Green Bay Packers have delivered a clear and uncompromising message to their season ticket holders ahead of the 2026 NFL season: if you are buying tickets solely to resell them for profit, you risk losing your renewal privileges.
With planning for 2026 already underway, the franchise announced it is continuing what it calls a “non-renewal exercise” — a process designed to ensure that season tickets are being used as intended: by fans attending games at Lambeau Field, not brokers capitalizing on demand.
Packers Season Ticket Policy: Attendance Over Resale
In a strongly worded news release issued on Monday, February 23, the organization made its stance unmistakably clear:
“Simply put: Packers Season Ticket Holders who purchase their tickets with the sole intent of reselling them should not be Packers Season Ticket Holders.”
This policy shift reflects the team’s ongoing effort to preserve one of the NFL’s most iconic home-field advantages. With more than 155,000 fans currently on the waiting list for season tickets as of 2025, demand far exceeds supply.
For the Packers, the priority is not maximizing resale value — it’s maintaining an authentic game-day atmosphere filled with loyal fans.
What Is the Packers’ “Non-Renewal Exercise”?
The so-called “non-renewal exercise” refers to a review process in which the team evaluates how season ticket holders are using their tickets. The objective is straightforward:
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Ensure tickets are primarily used for personal attendance
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Discourage habitual resale through brokers or secondary markets
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Protect the integrity of the home crowd environment
Invoices for the 2026 season are scheduled to be mailed to ticket holders next week. Those materials will include:
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Pricing details for the upcoming season
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A preview of 2026 home opponents
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Updated expectations regarding ticket usage policies
According to the organization, these expectations may continue to evolve as the team refines its approach.
Packers Leadership Speaks Out
Craig Benzel, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for the Packers, emphasized the importance of season ticket holders to the franchise’s identity.
“Our Season Ticket Holders are central to Lambeau Field’s significant homefield advantage and gameday experience,” Benzel said. “We continue to emphasize the purpose of having season tickets, which is to attend games and contribute to that atmosphere.”
The statement underscores a broader philosophy within the organization: season tickets are a privilege tied to fandom, not a financial instrument for profit.
Resale Consequences: What Ticket Holders Need to Know
The Packers acknowledged that not every season ticket holder can attend every game. Life events, scheduling conflicts, and travel limitations are understandable realities.
However, the team made an important distinction:
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Occasional resale due to legitimate inability to attend is acceptable.
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Repeated resale — especially through brokers or the secondary market — may trigger consequences.
The news release explicitly states that season ticket holders who consistently resell their tickets, whether directly or indirectly through ticket brokers, may have their renewal privileges impacted without further warning.
In other words, habitual resale could result in permanent loss of season ticket rights.
Why the Packers Are Taking Action Now
The decision to intensify enforcement ahead of 2026 comes at a time when the secondary ticket market continues to grow. Online platforms and brokers have made it easier than ever to purchase tickets strictly for resale purposes.
For the Packers, this trend poses a risk to what makes home games at Lambeau Field special:
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A deeply engaged fan base
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Generational season ticket families
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A consistent, loud home-field advantage
The franchise is one of the most tradition-rich organizations in professional sports. Protecting that culture appears to be driving this renewed emphasis on ticket usage compliance.
The 155,000-Person Waiting List Factor
Perhaps the most compelling element behind this crackdown is the size of the waiting list.
As of 2025, more than 155,000 fans are waiting for the opportunity to purchase Packers season tickets. In practical terms, that means thousands of loyal fans are eager to attend games but lack access because seats are tied up by current holders.
From the organization’s perspective, allowing tickets to function primarily as resale commodities undermines fairness. The team is effectively signaling that if you’re not attending games — and someone else is waiting — you may not retain your seat.
Protecting the Lambeau Field Atmosphere
Few stadiums in the NFL carry the mystique of Lambeau Field. The Packers’ home venue is widely considered one of the most intimidating environments for visiting teams.
Maintaining that edge requires:
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Fans invested emotionally in the team
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Consistent attendance from dedicated supporters
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A cohesive crowd presence
When seats are filled by opposing fans who purchase through resale channels, that dynamic can shift. The Packers’ message suggests they are determined to prevent that erosion.
By prioritizing ticket holders who attend games — or ensure their tickets go to fellow Packers fans — the organization is attempting to preserve its unique home-field advantage.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
As the 2026 NFL season approaches, the Packers’ stance serves as both warning and reminder.
Season ticket holders should expect:
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Increased scrutiny of resale patterns
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Clearer communication about acceptable usage
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Possible enforcement actions without advance notice
At the same time, the team appears open to reasonable flexibility when holders genuinely cannot attend. The emphasis is on intent and pattern, not isolated circumstances.
This policy could become a model for other NFL franchises grappling with similar resale concerns, particularly those with long waiting lists and strong fan traditions.
Final Thoughts
The Green Bay Packers are drawing a firm line: season tickets are meant for fans who show up.
With over 155,000 people waiting for seats and one of the league’s most storied home-field advantages to protect, the franchise is prioritizing atmosphere and loyalty over speculative resale profits.
For current season ticket holders, the message is simple — attend games, support the team, and contribute to the Lambeau experience. Those who treat tickets as inventory rather than a privilege may find themselves on the outside looking in as the 2026 season begins.