The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group has reached a purchase agreement with the Denver Broncos. What do we need to see from them now and in the future?
The Denver Broncos finally have a new ownership group in place. The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group reached a purchase agreement that, for the time being, makes the Broncos the most expensive sports franchise purchase of all time at $4.65 billion.
It’s a stunning business deal for the new ownership group and for the Denver Broncos, and as details continue to emerge, Broncos Country has every reason to be excited.
The ownership group is well-rounded, led by former Walmart chairman Rob Walton (the eldest son of Sam Walton), his daughter Carrie Walton-Penner, her husband and current Walmart chairman Greg Penner, and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson, one of the most successful businesswomen in the world.
They’ve made the financial investment, so what is next? What kind of action do we want to see from a new ownership group?
Here are six things — in no particular order — that I would consider high priorities.
Denver Broncos ownership priority no. 6: Sign off on a massive Russell Wilson extension
One of the first orders of business for this new ownership group will be to continually provide general manager George Paton with every asset he needs to make the team the best it can possibly be.
That will start with opening up the checkbook for quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wilson hasn’t even played a down for the Denver Broncos yet, but that doesn’t matter. Wilson is a proven superstar at the game’s most important position and his presence on the roster undoubtedly made the purchase of this team all the more attractive.
Although speculation has run rampant that Wilson could seek a 5-year, $250 million deal, all that is is speculation based on market value at this point.
It’s probably not far off, though.
Could Russell Wilson reset the market and get the biggest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history? It’s not impossible now that the Denver Broncos have an ownership group worth more billions than any other in the NFL.