Tag: Broncos Ownership

Broncos ownership has donated the most to politics (by far) among NFL owners

Broncos ownership has donated more than $17.8 million to political candidates and causes this election cycle, by far most among NFL owners.

The Denver Broncos have the richest ownership group in the NFL by far — and perhaps the most generous.

Broncos co-owner Rob Walton, a Walmart heir, donated more than $16.5 million to political candidates and causes from Jan. 1 last year to Oct. 1 this year, according to Tom Schad of USA TODAY Sports.

The next-highest donations amount this election cycle among NFL owners was $3,328,000 donated by Atlanta Falcons owner Authur Blank.

Greg Penner, Denver’s controlling owner and CEO, donated $171,500, eighth-most among NFL owners. His wife, Broncos co-owner Carrie Walton Penner, donated $1,064,900, fifth-most among league owners.

Rob Walton and Greg Penner donated primarily to Republican causes. Carrie Walton Penner donated $1 million to a Democratic political action committee.

Here’s a look at the ten biggest political donors among NFL owners this election cycle, courtesy of USA TODAY Sports:

Owner Team Donated Main Party
1. Rob Walton Broncos $16,597,200 R
2. Arthur Blank Falcons $3,328,000 D
3. David Tepper Panthers $2,887,500 R
4. Woody Johnson Jets $1,806,300 R
5. Carrie Walton Penner Broncos $1,064,900 D
6. Edward Glazer Buccaneers $735,300 R
7. Jimmy Haslam Browns $696,637 R
8. Greg Penner Broncos $171,500 R
9. Michael Bidwill Cardinals $106,000 R
10. Stephen Ross Dolphins $99,300 R

The 2024 United States elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Walton-Penner family purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion in 2022. They later added three minority owners to the ownership group.

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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.

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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.

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After 28 years with Broncos, John Elway’s official affiliation is over

John Elway spent 16 years with the Broncos as a QB, then 12 years as an executive and consultant. He helped Denver win three Super Bowls.

John Elway’s employment status with the Denver Broncos will not be renewed in 2023, it was announced Tuesday.

Elway joined the Broncos as general manager in 2011. In his first draft as GM, he drafted future Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller with the second pick of the 2011 draft. One season later, Elway helped bring fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning to Denver, where Manning resurrected his career. From 2011-2015, Elway and the Broncos won five straight AFC West titles and appeared in two Super Bowls.

Elway has been an instrumental part of all of the Broncos’ Super Bowl victories. Elway became the first man to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a general manager. The Hall of Famer leaves behind a legacy dotted with highs and lows, which have been magnified by the struggles Denver has had in finding a viable quarterback successor to Manning, as well as a coach who has yet to last more than three offseasons.

In 2020, Elway relinquished general manager duties to George Paton. Paton has brought in quarterback Russell Wilson, and more recently, head coach Sean Payton.

Elway’s contract as V.P. of football operations expired after the 2021 season. He then served as a consultant for the 2022 season. That consultant contract expired in March, and it won’t be renewed.

The final years of Elway’s tenure as GM were a little rocky, but he will always be remembered for what he accomplished as a QB and for later building the roster that won Super Bowl 50 with Manning.

Despite his contract not being renewed for 2023, Elway will most assuredly continue to be a familiar face around Dove Valley.

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Broncos ownership shouldn’t ask fans to help fund new stadium with PSLs

The Broncos have the richest ownership group in the NFL (by far). Those owners should not ask fans to help fund a new stadium with PSLs.

The Denver Broncos sent an email to season ticket holders on Thursday asking them to take a survey about the possibility of renovations to Empower Field at Mile High and the possibility of a completely new stadium.

“Surveys sent to fans regarding our gameday/stadium experience are the next step of the research project we announced in January,” team president Damani Leech tweeted on March 23. “We’ve had great feedback from the focus groups & look forward to learning even more with the surveys. Let us know what you think, Broncos Country!”

The Broncos have not yet officially made a decision on the possibility of a new stadium, but this is a step in a process that could ultimately lead to such a decision being made.

Thursday’s survey link asked questions about the stadium’s location (and how far fans are willing to travel) and the possibility of a roof on the stadium, among other topics. The survey also introduced the possibility of personal seat licenses, a one-time purchase that gives season ticket holders the “right” to buy their tickets each season.

PSLs are hated by fans but loved by teams because they can help fund building new stadiums. One fan on Twitter said he would have to pay almost $15,000 to get PSLs for his three season tickets in the highest section of the stadium.

“If the @Broncos want me to pay nearly $15000 for a PSL for my 3 seats, plus increase the total price per season for those seats by $2400 (to nearly $6000) I’ll be out,” @H_MooreCO tweeted Thursday.

Many fans will feel similarly, but with a long season-ticket waiting list, Denver will likely be able to find other fans willing to pay up. NFL games are already expensive to attend. Adding in PSLs for season ticket holders would make Broncos games even more out of reach for many fans.

“PSL’s price out average-income fans,” @AlamoOnTheRise tweeted Thursday. “If the Walton-Penner group is seeking to wash out longstanding, lower income season ticket holders, PSL’s are the way to go.”

Denver’s front office will point out that nearly every modern NFL stadium has been built with the help of PSLs. Broncos fans can counter, though, that no other NFL team has an ownership group like the Walton-Penner family.

Rob Walton has an estimated net worth of nearly $60 billion. The next-richest owner in the NFL is David Tepper, worth nearly $19 billion. Denver has the richest ownership group in the NFL by a very wide margin.

The Broncos do not have an ordinary ownership group, and they shouldn’t follow the lead of ordinary owners. Every ownership group in the NFL can afford to pay for their own stadium, and Denver’s even more so. Nothing is official yet, but if the Broncos ultimately decide to build a new super stadium, the owners should not ask fans to help fund it with PSLs.

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Roger Goodell comments on Broncos’ ownership situation

“For us, we want to make sure that his wishes are followed,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

During the Broncos’ end-of-season press conference, president/CEO Joe Ellis indicated that if beneficiaries would not sign off on Brittany Bowlen eventually becoming the team’s next controlling owner, the franchise might be sold to a new owner outside of Pat Bowlen’s family.

Bowlen died last June after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The team is now under control of the trust that he set up in his name. Bowlen tasked the trust with passing down ownership of the team to one of his children when a qualified candidate emerged.

During his media availability on Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the possibility of the Broncos being sold.

“It starts with what Pat Bowlen’s wishes were,” Goodell said, via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. “He established the trust to make sure there was an orderly transition of the franchise if something should happen to him. Unfortunately, that did, and Pat wanted to make sure the franchise was in good hands, in good management.”

Goodell didn’t have much new information to offer but he reiterated that the league aims to follow Bowlen’s plan.

“He wants his franchise, the Denver Broncos, to continue to have that success, and that’s why he set up the trust the way he did. For us, we want to make sure that his wishes are followed. I don’t think he’d be happy about the public disputes that are going on.”

The main dispute comes from Beth and Amie, two of Bowlen’s daughters, who are attempting to have the Pat Bowlen Trust removed from power through a lawsuit. The trust has previously said that Beth is not qualified or ready to take over as owner. Her sister, Brittany, is the most likely candidate to become the next owner.

“Unity is something that I think as an organization in the NFL, you have one person who makes a decision on behalf of an ownership group,” Goodell said. “That’s a vital and principal point in our ownership policy, and that is what Pat understood, he wanted that, and we need to have that in the case of all franchises. So that, at some point in time, will have to develop in the context of the Broncos.”

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