Tag: Ownership

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes comments on desire to bring a WNBA team to Kansas City

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes comments on desire to bring a WNBA team to Kansas City | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is confusing his ownership pursuits with a venture into the WNBA. During Thursday’s press conference, he addressed the recent report that he wants a WNBA franchise in Kansas City.

“We want to get basketball to Kansas City in general, and then WNBA and the success that they’ve had these last few seasons; it’s kind of a no-brainer,” said Mahomes. “I mean, to try to get a WNBA team in Kansas City to this fan base, and you see it with if you talk about Kansas University, Kansas basketball, the Chiefs, the city of Kansas City is going to come out, and they’re going to fill the stadium.”

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s report detailed Mahomes’ and his ownership group’s recent interest in a potential WNBA franchise coming to Kansas City after the recent success of the playoff-bound KC Current in the NWSL.

“So it was cool that we were able to get this women’s soccer team here in the (KC) Current. They’re going into the playoffs now, and you see the support that they have,” said Mahomes. “So let’s try to get a WNBA team in here as well, and kind of the same type of ownership group, and they’ve done the current the right way. I want to continue to work with them to take that next step in the WNBA.”

For years, Mahomes has been vocal about attracting more professional sports franchises to Kansas City, including an NBA franchise, for temporary accommodations during the Toronto Raptors’ COVID-19 restrictions season in 2021.

“Kansas City is such a great place for me; it’s a place that I call home, it’s a place that I built a house at, and that I’ll be for a long, long time,” said Mahomes. “So I think being involved in the community as much as possible, and I love sports. I know how much the city loves sports, so let’s bring as many sports in here and showcase how great Kansas City is, not only as a city but the people in the city as well.”

After taking business classes and working with groups to join ownership of several sports franchises, Mahomes hopes his efforts will encourage young girls, including his daughter, to get involved in sports.

“It started early with the Royals and Sporting Kansas City and the Current, and now hopefully, we will get this WNBA team here. It’s for life after football,” said Mahomes. “So I can still make an impact in all sports, and then, that same time, showcase to my daughter that she can follow her dream and go out there next game. Whatever that dream is.”

4 years after Sheila Hamp took over the Lions, no more ‘sell the team’ cries

4 years after Sheila Hamp took ownership of the Detroit Lions, no more ‘sell the team’ cries

Four years ago today, on June 23rd of 2020, Sheila Ford Hamp took over as the principal owner of the Detroit Lions. Hamp took the reins that day from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, who had run the Lions since her late husband’s death in 2014.

In looking back on that fateful day, the initial response from fans was generally, uh, unsupportive–to be kind. The most common reaction from the One Pride fan base back in June of 2020 was the near-ubiquitous battle cry:

“Sell the team!”

The Ford family was, quite understandably, very unpopular as NFL owners at that time. Just one postseason victory in 57 years of Ford ownership of the Lions had made anyone associated with the family patently inept in the eyes of most fans.

This was the very first response to the above post, from a longtime Detroit-area sports personality:

That someone had gone through the effort and expense to create and unfurl a “sell the team” banner at a Lions home game featuring the nonagenarian owner demonstrates how lowly regarded the Ford family was in Detroit.

Flash forward to June 23, 2024 and think about this…

When was the last time you heard a Lions fan demanding Sheila Hamp sell the team for the greater good of Detroit sports? After a thorny start with an inherited coach and GM who might have been even more unpopular than the Ford family at the time, the change in public perception of Lions ownership in four short years is nothing short of miraculous.

Hamp got her first hirings right in GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell — both of which were not exactly universally embraced moves at the time either. She had the awareness of just how wretched of a state the team was in after deposing the failed QuinnTricia regime.

She had the gumption to bring back franchise legend Chris Spielman to help guide what everyone knew would be a rough rebuild.

She had the temerity to let these unknown rookies at their management positions trade away the face of the franchise.

She had the perseverance to not throw out the baby with the bathwater when the cleansing didn’t start so smoothly.

She authorized any resources, both on-field and off-field, that Holmes and his staff wanted for the organization.

She listened to fan complaints about Ford Field and actually did something about them.

She opened the pursestrings to reward premium, homegrown talent instead of overpaying for other teams’ expensive free agents.

She supported controversial choices by Holmes and Campbell, from draft trades to play calls.

In short, Sheila Hamp has made it possible to be proud to be a Lions fan. Not many expected that back in the early summer of 2020 when Hamp took over for her mother.

Happy ownership anniversary, Lions fans. This is one worthy of celebrating, finally!

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce joins brother Jason as co-owners of Garage Beer

Kansas City #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce joins brother Jason as co-owners of Garage Beer | @EdEastonJr

The business moves for Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce continues to expand as he adds another venture to his growing list. In another joint decision with his brother Jason, the New Heights Podcast hosts are stepping into the beer world.

The Kelce brothers are teaming up as significant owners and operators of one of the fastest-growing beer brands in the country, Garage Beer. The small-batch brewed, classic light beer was founded in their home state of Ohio, where the duo learned about it. For the past two years, they have laid the groundwork to join forces with the company.

“It comes down to quality for me. I think everyone knows I like to have a couple beers now and then, so being an owner of Garage Beer and heavily involved in making the best light beer is exciting, man! There is nothing better to bring people together than an ice-cold beer, and for Jason and me, that is what beer is all about – friends, family, and fun.” said Travis in a statement. “I have worked with Andy for years, and I really trust the team and their approach to running the business. We look forward to taking Garage Beer to the next level.”

As significant investors, partners, owners, and operators, Jason and Travis will be involved in every aspect of the business, including brewing, distribution, sales, marketing, and national expansion efforts.

“Ever since our first conversation with Travis and Jason, it was clear we had similar opinions about beer, but they also had brilliant, and very funny, business sensibility. Our team better be on their toes now,” said Garage Beer co-owner Andy Sauer. “The garage is a symbol for building stronger communities one beer at a time, and I think we can all use more time with friends, family, and neighbors to talk, smile, laugh, and enjoy that time together.”

Garage Beer is a 4% ABV, 95 Calories, and 3g Carbohydrate light lager beer served in two varieties: classic regular and lime. Follow on Instagram and X.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter doesn’t expect Chargers to pursue Sean Payton

ESPN’s Adam Schefter doesn’t expect the Chargers to pursue Sean Payton. The foremost NFL splash reporter doesn’t believe L.A. will do what’s needed to chase him:

Here’s a splash of cold water from Adam Schefter. ESPN’s foremost Sunday morning splash reporter addressed the elephant in the room following the Los Angeles Chargers’ stunning playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night — with former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton having made no secret of his interest in their head coach job over the last year, it’s been widely expected that the Chargers would dismiss second-year coach Brandon Staley and pursuit the Super Bowl XLIV winner.

But Schefter suggested that Chargers ownership isn’t willing to spend what it would take to recruit Payton.

“It’s hard to see this franchise, with its history, being as aggressive as it would need to be to go get Sean Payton, as much he might be able to help that franchise,” Schefter said Sunday. “I don’t know how realistic that is.”

The team is owned by the unpopular Spanos family, who abandoned an established fanbase in San Diego to relocate their franchise to Los Angeles in a cost-saving move, partnering with the Rams in building SoFi Stadium. Staley is one of the lowest-paid head coaches around the league at about $4 million per year, and the Chargers are one of the few teams to still bicker with drafted rookies over contract language after recent collective bargaining agreements made such signings a paint-by-numbers process.

In other words, the Chargers are too tightfisted to pay Payton like one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches at around $20 million per year. That’s in addition to the draft capital going to New Orleans in a potential trade for Payton’s coaching rights. So, based off what Schefter is hearing and looking at their past decisions, it doesn’t look like Chargers management will act as aggressively to pursue Payton as everyone from their team’s fans to maybe Payton himself hope them to.

Instead, Schefter says, expect the Chargers to make some minor coaching staff changes like hiring a new coordinator or two and shuffling the position coaches. That might be enough to get them back to the playoffs in 2023 but it’s hardly the blockbuster upgrade many observers are looking for.

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Kam Chancellor interested in buying Seahawks: ‘Let’s make some history’

However, it seems that a certain former Seahawk wishes to be involved in the process.

Speculation over the future of the Seattle Seahawks has been rife in recent weeks and not just in regards to the product on the field. 

With reports floating around that the team could be sold, a few potential buyers could be in the market. However, it seems that a certain former Seahawk wishes to be involved in the process.

Kam Chancellor is one of the most beloved players in franchise history and one of the greatest strong safeties to ever lace them up. However, the idea of him currently being the sole owner of an NFL team is a pipe dream because he is not a billionaire, even though he has no financial concerns and will not for a long time, having made tens of millions as a player with the Seahawks.

It would be intriguing to see Chancellor involved in team operations in some capacity and it is pleasing to see that he cares about the organization’s long-term stability and is willing to put himself in a position to achieve it.

The future of team ownership is up in the air for now and things could be settled very soon, so we will just have to wait and see.

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Legal battle won, Broncos can now move toward sale

The Broncos are now one step closer to likely being sold.

Story update: A Denver judge has ruled that ROFR Holdings Ltd.’s “right of first refusal is no longer valid or enforceable in any respect,” according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. That has cleared the final roadblock for the Broncos to potentially move toward a sale. See our original post below.

The Denver Broncos are expected to be sold this spring, but an ongoing legal dispute has seemingly slowed down the process.

In his end-of-season press conference on Sunday, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said he can’t provide an update on the team’s ownership situation until the legal matter is resolved.

“I think most of you are familiar of the fact that we are in a trial — a case in the hands of the court and the right of first refusal case — between Edgar Kaiser and Pat Bowlen,” Ellis said. “Out of respect for the court, I’m going to wait and get back to you at a later date on that …. I want the court to be able to let its process see through to the end.

“From there, I’ll be able to get back to you and let you know where things stand. I don’t have a timeline on that, but I just want to respect the court and let the judge decide what decision will be rendered at what time. It’s certainly her decision.”

ROFR Holdings Ltd. claims to have the right of first refusal passed down from Kaiser, who sold the team to Bowlen in 1984. The Broncos argue that the ROFR agreement between Bowlen and Kaiser is no longer valid because both men have since died. Now the court has to decide.

In the meantime, a potential sale remains on hold.

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Peyton Manning, John Elway linked to Broncos in ownership buzz

If the Broncos are sold, John Elway and Peyton Manning are both expected to have interest in joining a potential ownership group.

If the Denver Broncos do not remain in the family of late owner Pat Bowlen, a sale could happen as early as 2022.

If the Broncos do hit the market, the team will undoubtedly draw plenty of suitors, with two former quarterbacks potentially among them.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Sunday that Peyton Manning has “had contact with potential ownership groups to glean how he might be able to have a role both as a potential minority investor as well as perhaps with the management of the team.”

Shortly after that CBS report emerged, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reported that John Elway also “has interest in being part of [an] ownership group if the team should be put up for sale.”

Of course, this interest will only become relevant if the team is put on the market, and that hasn’t happened — yet.

Forbes recently estimated that the Broncos are worth $3.75 billion. Neither Manning nor Elway would be able to afford that kind of price tag on their own, but either one of them could be the face of an ownership group with multiple investors.

It remains to be seen if Manning and Elway would be willing to combine to form one ownership group bid. Otherwise, the Hall of Fame quarterbacks might be headed for a bidding war between themselves.

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Forbes: Broncos are 11th-most valuable team in the NFL

The Broncos are worth $3 billion, making them the 11th-most valuable franchise in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos are the 25th-most valuable sports team in the world and the 11th-most valuable NFL team, according to a 2020 estimate from Forbes. The franchise moved up one spot in the world ranking from last year (No. 26) but Denver kept its No. 11 ranking among NFL clubs.

Forbes estimates that the Broncos are worth $3 billion, a notable increase from their valuation of $2.65 billion in 2019. Denver is the most valuable team in the AFC West, above the Las Vegas Raiders ($2.9 billion), Los Angeles Chargers ($2.5 billion) and Kansas City Chiefs ($2.3 billion).

Forbes says the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world, worth $5.5 billion. MLB’s New York Yankees ($5 billion) and the NBA’s New York Knicks ($4.6 billion) are Nos. 2-3 on the list.

Late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen purchased the team for $78 million in 1984. Right now, the team is under the control of the Pat Bowlen Trust. Brittany Bowlen, one of Pat’s daughters, appears to be the frontrunner to become the next controlling owner.

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Running an NFL team as a co-owner might be Peyton Manning’s next move

Peyton Manning might become a general manager/partial owner of an NFL team in the future.

In a feature story about Peyton Manning published this week, Bleacher Report’s Kalyn Kahler reported that the former quarterback wants to “run a team with an ownership stake,” citing three unnamed sources.

Manning has received plenty of interest from television networks who want him to call NFL games and there have been rumors about teams gauging Manning’s interest in potentially joining a team as an executive.

Manning might end up becoming a commentator or general manager/partial owner at some point but right now, he’s in no rush to make a decision about his future.

Manning told Kahler that working for a team’s front office is “just not something that I have moved on yet.” That could — and probably will — change in the future, but fans shouldn’t expect Manning to take over a team anytime soon.

Manning has ruled out the possibility of coaching and he’s turned down multiple TV offers. Running a team might be Manning’s next job but it’s unclear how long it will be until that happens — the right opportunity has to become available and Manning has to feel ready to accept it.

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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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