Byron Allen as an ownership option should excite Broncos Country

For years, it’s been a foregone conclusion that the Broncos were going to be sold. It seemed inevitable that the family of Pat Bowlen wouldn’t be able to figure out a way to keep eight heirs happy in a succession plan.

So when it became official earlier this month that the team was on the market, no one was surprised. It was step that everyone knew was coming.

The next part of the process, however, isn’t set in stone. And it’s creating some angst in Broncos Country.

Now, the question is simple: Who ends up as the owner of the franchise?

And that leads to all sorts of questions that aren’t as cut and dry. Namely, they have to do with how a new owner will operate the team.

It could be great. It could be bad. There are plenty of owners, in all professional sports, who fall into each group. So there’s no way of telling in which one the new steward of the Broncos will reside.

Thus, it’s important to take a look at each candidate when they arise to try to determine the fit. First up is Byron Allen, a media mogul who was revealed as a candidate on Tuesday night.

There’s a lot to like about Allen. He’s a self-made man, someone who has crafted a career and empire from the ground up. That’s a path of hard work, creativity and gumption that bodes well for a prospective owner. It would establish a great culture within the organization.

But there’s plenty more to like about Allen beyond his background. In an interview with 9News, the comedian turned media mogul offered a lot of thoughts that should be music to the ears of Broncos fans.

First of all, he understands the history of the team and appreciates the legacy he’d be taking over. That’s of vital importance for a franchise that is trying to get back on track, one that has a storied past.

“I love the Broncos,” Allen told 9News. “(John) Elway. (Peyton) Manning. I love the Broncos. Who doesn’t love the Broncos?”

He knows he’d be filling big shoes.

“I have a great deal of respect for Pat Bowlen,” Allen added. “Pat Bowlen was one of the great owners. One of the phenomenal owners. I have an enormous respect for him and his family and what they’ve done for Denver, the state of Colorado, for the NFL, for the country. And I wouldn’t get involved unless I believed I could grow on what they’ve built.”

Building upon a grand tradition is huge. Having the means to do so will be a key.

“Capital is not an issue,” Allen said when asked if he’d have the wherewithal to swing a purchase that could total $4 bill. “There’s plenty of capital. The money is not an issue.”

In part, Allen will hit the price tag by assembling a great group of people to be involved with the project. He promises to bring together the best of the best to be a part of the Broncos ownership.

“I’m not doing the whole thing by myself; we are forming an investor group that we’ve already started,” Allen explained. It’s a ‘Who’s who’ of Wall Street and sports and Hollywood and business and real estate entrepreneurs. America doesn’t have a shortage of is money and people who love the Broncos.”

This is something Allen has done before. In previous deals, there were rumblings about his ability to secure financing. This is nothing new.

“People said the same thing when I went and bought the Weather Channel; now, I’ve owned the Weather Channel nearly four years.” Allen explained. “People don’t realize over the last couple of years I have invested about a billion dollars buying ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates around the country. I’m the only black owner of big-four network affiliates. And I’m the only owner of the big-four networks that’s not publicly traded or multi-generationally owned.”

In other words, the estimates about his wealth aren’t accurate. His company isn’t publicly traded, so it’s difficult to assess how much he is actually worth.

What he’s achieved, however, hasn’t come by thinking small. He’s all about taking chances and rolling the dice.

“Hey, that’s the American Way,” Allen offered. “You have to think big and dream big and go big. This is a big opportunity.”

He’d be making history by becoming the first minority owner in the NFL. He believes that step can be huge for all involved.

“Having somebody in the room to give some perspective and move it beyond conversation and into something that’s actionable and more balanced; I’m a big believer in balance, bringing balance to the ecosystem,” Allen explained. “I’m a firm believer we have to work towards that goal of becoming one America, where we’re united and not divided. We have to remember we’re a small country; we’re a small village. We’re only 330 million people out of a global population of seven-plus billion people. We have to become one. I’m about what can we do to elevate Americans and position Americans to be their best.”

That’s what makes this opportunity different from his other business ventures. It’s not about the bottom line.

“This isn’t about making money; you don’t buy an NFL team to get rich,” Allen said. “You buy an NFL team to help American be better. This is a moment where in success this would be great for the league, great for the country and that is all helping us be better.”

Byron Allen is a hard working, self-made man. He’s surrounding himself with a great group of investors. He has big dreams and lofty goals. He wants into the NFL in order to achieve great things.

If he ends up as the next owner of the Broncos, that all should excite the fan base. While nothing is certain, all signs point to him being a great successor to Pat Bowlen.

Follow @jamesmerilatt