Tag: Greg Penner

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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Broncos owner Greg Penner joins NFL’s Finance Committee

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner has joined NFL’s Finance Committee.

The Denver Broncos ownership group continues making moves. 

The Walton-Penner family took over the Denver franchise in 2022 and is on the road to getting it on the right track. Greg Penner, the team’s majority owner and CEO, will now add his expertise to the NFL’s Finance Committee, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. 

This marks the fourth NFL committee Penner has joined and the sixth committee the ownership sits on overall. 

As the NFL continues to grow, Penner’s expertise comes right on time. From the Klis report: 

Given Penner’s financial and business experience in the corporate world — he’s been chairman of Walmart since 2015, founded the investment firm, Madrone Capital Partners and serves as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs — it only makes sense for the NFL to lean into his knowledge on financial and business-related committees.

His experience figures to help the NFL during a time of unprecedented growth and revenue for the league.

While Penner is making business moves, his Denver Broncos are set to kick off Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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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.

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Greg Penner has high expectations for Sean Payton’s Broncos

“It’s a young team, but I’ve got high expectations for what we can accomplish,” Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner said.

Last year, the Denver Broncos’ ownership group had their first opportunity to hire an NFL head coach, and they swung big.

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner struck a deal with Sean Payton and he gave GM George Paton permission to trade draft assets to acquire the coach. Then he made Payton the highest-paid coach in American sports.

Penner is all-in on Payton, and he believes the coach can turn the franchise around after eight seasons of missing the playoffs.

“I do think he’s energized,” Penner said last week. “Any time going into Year 2 is going to be a little bit easier than the first year where you’ve come into an organization, you understand the organization, the history, the fans.

“He, George and myself, have developed a real sense of partnership and respect and communication. He’s had a chance to reshape the roster in a way that he’s really excited about. It’s great to see his approach.”

Denver went 8-9 in Payton’s first season. It was a step forward — that was the Broncos’ best record in seven years — but it wasn’t enough to reach the playoffs. Now entering Year 2 with Payton in charge, Penner has high expectations for his team.

“I’m encouraged by what I saw in training camp,” the owner said. “You go back to when I spoke after the season. I said this was going to be a critical offseason. It’s obviously too early to declare success, but I’ve been really impressed with what Sean and George have done this offseason with the veteran players we brought in through free agency or trades or approached the draft, what we did there.

“From the first day of OTAs, just the enthusiasm, the competitiveness. I mean, I’m sure you guys could hear it on the field. It was different and that carried through to training camp. That passion and intensity, we saw it in the preseason games. It’s a young team, but I’ve got high expectations for what we can accomplish.”

Payton, 60, is under contract with the Broncos through the 2027 season. We’ll see if he can get Denver back to the postseason before that deal expires.

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Will the Broncos build a new stadium? Greg Penner weighs in

“We’re evaluating options for a new stadium potentially and whether that’s on the current site or somewhere else,” Greg Penner said.

The Denver Broncos had a groundbreaking ceremony for a new headquarters and training facility on Thursday.

At the ceremony, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was asked if the team considered building an entertainment district around the facility.

”There are a couple of things,” Penner said of the decision to not have entertainment around the practice facility. “One with just the timing, which is, as we talked about, we’re evaluating options for a new stadium potentially and whether that’s on the current site or somewhere else. We weren’t ready to make that decision at this point.

“The second thing is, some teams do have that (an entertainment district around the facility) with mixed results. I think in certain cases there are positives to having both in one location. There’s also something about coming to a place where, this is where we practice, this is our space.

“Sometimes we’ll have fans, as you all know, and partners here, but it’s really about work and practice. I think sometimes if you combine that with more entertainment, there can be some dangers with that.”

Not much of an update on the team’s stadium status, but Penner did confirm the team is “evaluating options.” Denver started surveying fans about the stadium’s future last year, and there’s been speculation that the ownership group could eventually build a mega stadium with an entertainment district around it.

The team’s current lease at Empower Field at Mile High runs through the 2031 season. With eight more years left at the current stadium, Denver’s brass hasn’t rushed into announcing any future plans. That won’t stop fans and media members from asking about it.

“I’ve been getting the stadium questions since Day 1 about two years ago,” team president Damani Leech said Thursday. “We’ll continue to get that. I think the answer is the same one. It’s a pretty long process. We’re still evaluating everything. Everything’s on the table. We’ll continue to explore it and make a decision at a time that makes sense for us.”

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Broncos owner Greg Penner ‘really impressed’ with Bo Nix

“I’ve been really impressed with his poise and maturity,” Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner said of rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

So far, so good for Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the team’s practice facility on Thursday, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was asked about Nix.

“I’ve been really impressed with his poise and maturity,” Penner said. “There’s something about starting so many games in college that obviously develops that. I think he’s got some incredible traits. It was great to see how he played in the first two preseason games.”

Penner has been clear since he arrived that he manages the business side while empowering qualified football personnel to handle the football side. That doesn’t mean he’s a hands-off owner, though. Penner is engaged with the team and players.

“I had a chance to call [Nix] after Sean [Payton] announced that he would be the starting quarterback,” Penner said. “I had a great conversation with him then. All rookies are going to go through some ups and downs in their first season, and I told him we’re going to support him. I’m excited to see what he can do on the field and the rest of this roster.”

Nix impressed in preseason and he was named the team’s starter earlier this month. When the Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8, Nix will become the team’s first rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 since John Elway in 1983. No pressure, Bo.

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Broncos owner Greg Penner helped oversee NFL’s approval of private equity firms

Approved private equity firms can now buy up to 10% of NFL teams after Greg Penner helped push through the league’s ownership rule change.

The NFL has approved select private equity firms to buy up to 10% stakes in teams, Denver Broncos owner Greg Penner confirmed Tuesday.

A collection of at least seven firms plans to invest $12 billion in NFL teams. All but one NFL ownership group — the Cincinnati Bengals — voted in favor of allowing private equity firms to buy into teams.

“The support today in the room was very strong for this decision,” Penner said. “One thing that was really important was … giving owners a different option for capital sources but at the same time maintaining how we operate.”

Penner was part of a five-owner committee that spearheaded the approval, joining Clark Hunt, Robert Kraft, Jimmy Haslam and Arthur Blank.

The Broncos, of course, won’t be taking advantage of the new policy allowing private equity stakes. The Walton-Penner family purchased Denver’s NFL franchise for $4.65 billion in 2022 and they are the richest ownership group in the league. No private equity needed for the Broncos.

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Broncos are breaking ground on new headquarters and practice facility today

The Broncos are breaking ground on their new Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit facility today.

The Denver Broncos will break ground on a new Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit facility on Thursday morning.

“Designed in a contemporary style reflective of Colorado with a focus on enhancing player health and performance, the Broncos’ facility will bring together football and business operations in an inspirational, collaborative and modern environment,” the team said in a press release earlier this week. “The three-story, 205,000-square-foot training facility will mark a 30 percent increase in size over the existing facility.”

The privately funded project is projected to cost about $175 million, and the Broncos hope to have construction completed in time for the 2026 season.

Denver coach Sean Payton said after Wednesday’s practice that he’s looking forward to an underground parking lot that will prevent him from having to scrape snow off his car windows in the winter.

“Obviously, it’s going to be beautiful,” Payton said. “It’s going to be nice — I think two years is the [target date], I think 2026. When we’re sitting here doing this, it’s going to be there (points to new facility location). This will all be gone. Greg [Penner], Carrie [Walton Penner], the planning — there’s been a lot that’s gone into it. And it’s just one more sign of their commitment relative to this organization and where we’re at [and] what they want to do.”

Here is a rendering of what the new facility will look like, provided by the team. Denver is expected to use temporary bleachers for fans at training camp next summer during construction. Once completed, the Broncos will have a beautiful facility for players, coaches and fans to enjoy.

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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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Broncos facility updates: New indoor turf + fans at training camp

The Broncos are replacing the turf at their indoor facility, and fans are expected at training camp this year despite facility construction.

The Denver Broncos announced two notable training facility updates during the NFL’s annual meetings in Orlando earlier this week.

The first update was an announcement from team owner/CEO Greg Penner that the team will replace the turf at their indoor Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. The existing turf still had roughly 10 years left in its estimated lifespan, but the Broncos have decided to replace it with a “state-of-the-art” upgrade.

Better indoor turf could, in theory, reduce injuries for Denver, but changing the turf does not directly impact the fans. The second bit of news does.

The Broncos will soon begin construction on a new facility at their current Dove Valley location, and it remains to be seen how many fans will be able to attend training camp while the new facility is being built.

Denver coach Sean Payton said Monday that the team has not discussed the possibility of holding training camp practices at a different location during construction. The Broncos have not yet decided if construction will begin before or after training camp this summer.

Plans are still being finalized, but the team is currently planning to have fans at training camp despite the construction. Denver had a capacity limit of 3,000 fans at practices last summer, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the limit is even lower during construction.

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