We have a date for the Broncos’ ownership transition

Aug. 9 will be the Broncos’ 14th full training-camp day. It will see their 12th camp practice of the Russell Wilson-Nathaniel Hackett era.

It could also be a momentous day for the franchise: the day of their first ownership transition in 38 years.

According to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, NFL owners will vote on formal approval of the Walton-Penner group’s $4.65 billion bid to buy the Broncos from the estate of Pat Bowlen.

August 9 will mark the end of the Bowlen family ownership of the Denver Broncos and the start of the Rob Walton tenure. The NFL scheduled an in-person owners meeting in Minnesota that day in part to vote on Walton's $4.6 billion agreement

— Daniel Kaplan (@KaplanSportsBiz) July 20, 2022

The Broncos announced the sale June 8. The price shattered the previous record for a North American professional-sports franchise.

Approval by NFL owners is expected to be a formality for the Walton-Penner group, which will become the wealthiest ownership consortium in North American professional sports.

Denver’s expected new ownership group includes former Walmart chairman Rob Walton, his daughter, education-policy expert Carrie Walton-Penner, current Walmart chairman Greg Penner, Starbucks chairwoman Mellody Hobson and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

With approval, the 38-year run of Bowlen family ownership will conclude. Pat Bowlen bought the franchise in 1984, with other family members as part of his ownership group.

Bowlen and his family paid $78 million for the Broncos.

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