The Broncos record-setting price tag could’ve been even higher
Jun 8, 2022, 10:20 AM
On Tuesday night, the seemingly never-ending search for the Broncos next owner came to an end. Nearly three years after Pat Bowlen’s passing, the storied franchise will change hands for the first time since 1984.
A group led by Robson Walton has agreed to purchase the team for $4.65 billion. That’s more than double the $2.275 billion Dave Tepper paid for the Carolina Panthers in 2018, making the Broncos the most-expensive sports franchise purchase in American sports history. By a large margin.
The price tag could’ve been even higher, however. When the second round of bids came in on Monday, one of the four groups interested in the team was willing to go higher than $4.65 billion.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, 76ers co-owner Josh Harris was willing to go as high as $5 billion in his attempt to purchase the Broncos. He wasn’t assured that would get the job done, however, as it was expected that Walton, the 17th-richest person in America, could outbid everyone else in the running.
While driving up Walton’s tab might’ve been fun, it would’ve actually hurt Harris in the long run. He’s reportedly going to bid again whenever the next NFL franchise hits the market, so he didn’t want to drive up his own price tag by bidding up the Broncos.
As a result, the eight Bowlen heirs will have to settle for their share of $4.65 billion. That’s a cool $581,250,000 apiece.
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