Tag: Broncos Owners

Broncos replace grass field ahead of Falcons game

The Denver Broncos used a local sod farm to replace the grass on the field at Empower Field at Mile High.

Prior to a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11, the Denver Broncos gave the grass at Empower Field at Mile High a makeover.

The team’s stadium crew got the field replaced within 36 hours after playing the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 27, giving it three weeks to settle in before the Falcons game on Nov. 17.

The grass comes from Platteville, Colorado, which is approximately 45 minutes north of Boulder, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Chris Hathaway, the Broncos director of turf and ground at Empower Field at Mile High, wrote on Twitter/X that the main reason for the replacement is player safety.

The Walton-Penner ownership group famously trucked in a grass field before the 2022 season finale and replaced it again mid-season in 2023.

“[They] just told me,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after practice Wednesday when asked about the grass being replaced. “You would have to ask Greg [Penner]. Meaning, our field has been in good shape. I don’t know what’s taken place since the last one. The one thing I do know is if Greg feels like it’s not to his liking, then he’s not afraid to do it. I literally just found out and [it’s] outstanding.”

The Broncos are one of 15 teams at 30 stadiums across the NFL to use a natural grass playing surface. After hosting Atlanta on Sunday, Denver will have three more home games remaining on their 2024 schedule.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Forbes estimates Broncos are worth $5.5B, 14th-most in the NFL

Forbes estimates the Broncos are worth $5.5 billion, making them the 14th-most valuable franchise in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos are worth an estimated $5.5 billion going into the 2024 NFL season, according to a projection from Forbes. That marks an 8% increase from when the team was valued at $5.1 billion last year.

The Broncos are the 14th most valuable franchise in the NFL with an operating income of $114 million, according to Forbes.

A group led by Rob Walton purchased the franchise for $4.65 billion in 2022 and they instantly became the richest ownership group in the NFL. After Walton transferred part of his ownership stake to his grandchildren last year, Greg Penner (Walton’s son-in-law) became Denver’s new controlling owner with a majority share.

Elsewhere in the AFC West, the Las Vegas Raiders ($6.7 billion) are ranked seventh in the NFL. The Los Angeles Chargers ($5.1 billion) are 20th and the Kansas City Chiefs ($4.85 billion) are 24th.

The Dallas Cowboys ($10.1 billion) are the most valuable team in the league and the Cincinnati Bengals ($4.1 billion) are the least valuable. You can view the full list of all 32 teams on Forbes.com.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Damani Leech on Broncos ownership: ‘They want to win now’

“They want to win [and] they want to win now,” Broncos president Damani Leech said of the team’s ownership group.

Since taking over in 2022, the Denver Broncos’ new ownership group led by Greg Penner has poured resources into improving the team on and off the field. They paid to bring in Sean Payton, they’ve paid big contracts in free agency and they’ve made improvements to the stadium, practice facility and everyday fan experiences.

Penner and Co. have given Payton everything he needs to be successful because Denver’s ownership group is eager to win.

“I think [there are] two things to me that are really apparent about our ownership group,” Broncos president Damani Leech said earlier this month when unveiling renovations to the stadium. “I think first and foremost, there’s a commitment to winning. They want to be successful on the field. I think you’re seeing that in the investments both from a staff standpoint as well as from a player standpoint. They want to win, they want to win now as Greg has used the [phrase], he’s very impatient. They want to win.

“I think the second is the commitment to the fans. Right away, as we saw last year, ‘What can we do to make the fan experience better here on gamedays?’ It really pushed us to be really thoughtful about it. Not just what we’re doing, but why are we doing it, and we expect to continue to see that here every year.”

Last year, Payton wasn’t able to deliver a winning season as the Broncos went 8-9, but that was the team’s best mark since 2016. Payton’s squad will aim to take another step forward in 2024. There will be some growing pains with a rookie quarterback, but expectations are high in Denver. That starts with ownership. We’ll see if it translates to results on the field.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Peyton Manning isn’t interested in running Broncos, but he helps where he can

Peyton Manning doesn’t want to run the Broncos, but he often visits the team. “I still have my key fob that still works from when I played.”

Two years ago, ESPN reported that the Denver Broncos’ new ownership group wanted to get Peyton Manning involved.

The Walton-Penner family eventually added three minority owners, but Manning was not among them. It seems that the former quarterback was not interested in an ownership stake.

“I don’t think that’s anywhere on my radar by any means,” Manning told media members before receiving the Mizel Institute’s 2024 Enrichment Award on May 22. “But look, I love being an ambassador for the Broncos and for the Colts, for the University of Tennessee. Obviously, living here, I get to go to all the Broncos games. I was out at the facility the other day.”

Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton have indicated that Manning has been a “great resource” for the club, and the former QB seems content to continue aiding the team without an official title.

“Our kids do sports in the area around Dove Valley, so I’m probably at the facility a couple times a week,” Manning said. “[They have] great snacks over there in that kind of cafeteria, so I don’t know if I’m being charged for those or what, but [I have] great access. And I still have my key fob that still works from when I played, so Keith Bishop never made that go away, so that’s helpful as well. … But as far as running the team, I don’t think that’s on my radar in any way.”

Manning does not appear interested in becoming a co-owner or executive anytime soon, but he said he takes his ambassador role very seriously. The former QB does not need an official title to help the club whenever he can. The Broncos are fortunate to have him as an ambassador and resource.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Denver Broncos Foundation awards grants to eight nonprofits with Inspire Change initiative

The Denver Broncos Foundation announced grants to eight nonprofits that will positively impact an estimated 800 justice-involved youth.

The Denver Broncos are stuck in neutral with a 7-7 record with three games left in the 2023 NFL season, but the organization continues to make progress off the field.

The Denver Broncos Foundation recently announced grants to eight nonprofits that will positively impact an estimated 800 justice-involved youth through the team’s Inspire Change outreach this season.

The eight foundations the Broncos will support goes as follows:

1. Cafe Momentum

2. Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC)

3. Mile High United Way’s

4. Seeing Our Adolescents Rise (SOAR)

5. Sims-Fayola Foundation

6. The Urban Farm (TUF)

7. WellPower

8. YouthZone

The Broncos’ intent is to focus on supporting at-risk and justice-involved youth with different services. The services focuses on helping limit the negative impact of the juvenile justice system and its pitfalls.

This year, the Broncos have made an impact off the field, donating $1 million to Cafe Momentum earlier this season and sponsored training for two K9 service dogs. So while Denver has made noise on the field, they are doing the same off the field, too.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Broncos sponsor training for two ‘K9s for Warriors’ service dogs

The Broncos will sponsor the training of Bucky and Thunder, K9s For Warriors service dogs who will be paired with a veteran in need.

The Denver Broncos will sponsor the training of two service dogs in partnership with the K9s For Warriors organization. Spearheaded by Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner and head coach Sean Payton, the sponsorship of the two dogs will help retired military veterans. The sponsored dogs are two 11-month-old black Labrador brothers named Bucky and Thunder.

Allie Engelken, the Broncos Vice President of Community Impact, stated how exciting this partnership will be.

“Through the leadership and support of Owner and Foundation Board Chair Carrie Walton Penner and Head Coach Sean Payton, we are excited to sponsor the training of Bucky and Thunder,” Engelken said in a press release.

“Affectionately named after two iconic Denver mascots, we are excited to see them grow into passionate and hard-working service dogs that will create a lasting impact on a Colorado veteran’s life.”

K9s For Warriors is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping end veteran suicide while providing highly trained service dogs to military veterans who have PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Congrats to the Broncos for landing this partnership.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos considering making renovations to training facility

The Broncos have already started $100 million worth of renovations to the stadium. The team is also considering practice facility upgrades.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

The Denver Broncos have a new naming rights partner in Centura Health for their training facility, and some of the money from that agreement could potentially be used to make upgrades and renovations to the facility.

“As we’ve discussed, we’ve been with ownership, and we’ve looked at several other training facilities around the league,” Broncos president Damani Leech said during a press conference to announce the Centura Health partnership last week.

“We started that process over the course of the fall, and we’ll continue to do that research. Regardless of what happens with this facility — renovations, new build, etc. — it’s going to be the Centura Health Training Center.”

Leech and members of the team’s ownership group visited the facilities of the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

The Broncos have also begun $100 million worth of stadium upgrades at Empower Field at Mile High, with the biggest renovation being a new scoreboard. Now practice facility upgrades are being considered as well.

It’s clear that the team’s new ownership group is willing to spend generously to help improve the franchise.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts