Last month, Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico.com reported that five groups have advanced to the “next round” of bidding for the Denver Broncos.
At the time, three of those groups were known, led by Walmart heir Rob Walton, NBA owner Josh Harris and MLB owner Todd Boehly. There have been a few notable developments since then.
Boehly has purchased Chelsea, a soccer club in England, which might make him unlikely to also buy the Broncos at a record-breaking price. Meanwhile, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson recently joined the Harris group.
And the latest development: we now know the fourth group is being led by media mogul Byron Allen, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Allen was asked by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2019 to consider becoming a franchise owner.
The fifth group in the running to buy the club remains a mystery for now. At least two other groups were said to be considering bids for the team in recent weeks, and there have been conflicting reports on whether or not Robert F. Smith will submit a bid. There’s also a cryptocurrency group that’s aiming to acquire at least part of the team.
The Broncos will likely be sold for more than $4 billion, and they are hoping to complete a sale before the 2022 season begins. Walton is considered the favorite given his estimated net worth of about $70 billion.