Bidding War for Broncos Ownership Expected to Escalate

The battle for the Denver Broncos is taking shape, with four groups duking it out for the coveted NFL team.

Second-round bids are due on Monday, and proposals are likely to top $4.5 billion. With the team aiming to find new owners by the start of the next season in September, the process is expected to accelerate this month.

• A group originally reported as led by Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Sparks part-owner Todd Boehly is in fact helmed by Clearlake Capital co-founder Jose E. Feliciano with business partner Behdad Eghbali. 
• Clearlake, which manages around $43 billion, provided the bulk of the funding for Boehly’s purchase of Chelsea FC, but a Broncos purchase would come from the co-founders’ pockets. Both Feliciano and Eghbali are worth a reported $3.4 billion.
• Boehly and Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter are also part of that bidding group.

The other leading groups are led by Rob Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, along with Walmart chair Greg Penner, United Wholesale Mortgage CEO and former college athlete Mat Ishbia, and Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owner Josh Harris.

Harris’ group includes another Dodgers part-owner, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Allen Out?

While entertainment mogul Byron Allen has maintained a presence throughout the bidding process, he is now considered a long shot. Unlike other leading bidders, Allen has not visited the Broncos’ facilities, according to Denver TV station 9News.