#Terry and Kim Pegula

[subsidystadium]

Buffalo Bills exec promises that, unlike last stadium, developers will flock to the new one

Last year, New York lawmakers gave the Buffalo Bills $850 million dollars in taxpayer money to help the NFL team build a new stadium. One well-known economist, Victor Matheson, wrote that “the New York Legislature has managed to craft one of the worst stadium deals in recent memory”. That $850 million dollar figure does NOT include a significant number of subsidies such as “maintenance costs and…

[sa7abnews]

Meet US Open star Jessica Pegula, whose parents are the billionaire owners of the Buffalo Bills

New Post has been published on Sa7ab News

Meet US Open star Jessica Pegula, whose parents are the billionaire owners of the Buffalo Bills

Tennis star Jessica Pegula, 30, is competing in the US Open. She’s the daughter of billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula, who own the Buffalo Bills.

... read more !

[serve-update]

Kim Pegula Net Worth: How Many Children Does Kim Pegula Have?

American businesswoman Kim S. Pegula is one of the primary owners of the NFL's Buffalo Bills together with her husband, Terry Pegula. A 53-year-old Seoul, South Korean native, she was born on June 7, 1969.

Kim Pegula Net Worth

American businesswoman Kim Pegula has a net worth of $100 million. A native of Seoul, South Korea, Kim Pegula grew up in the city. She and her husband, Terry Pegula, are famous as co-majority owners of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Must read about Les Brown Net Worth. Kim Pegula is the chief executive officer of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League, as well as the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, the independent record label Black River Entertainment, and the HarborCenter. https://twitter.com/tsg_sportsgrail/status/1623697386466947073 Jessica Pegula, a professional tennis player, is one of Kim and Terrence Pegula's three children. The Pegulas outbid Donald Trump and Jon Bon Jovi, among others, to purchase the Bills for a record $1.4 billion. She contributed to the creation of One Buffalo, a brand of ice cream and cupcakes. Check also Where To Watch South Park Season 26.

How Many Children Does Kim Pegula Have?

Jessica, Kelly, and Matthew are Kim and Terry Pegula's three children. While Kim is Terry's wife, she is also the stepmother to his children Laura and Michael from a prior relationship. At Highmark Stadium, where the Buffalo Bills play their home games in the NFL, the family is a common sight.

Kim Pegula Net Worth In 1991, Terry and Kim first met each other while Kim was in New York City for a waitressing interview. Terry proposed to his future wife by hiring her for a position at his oil and gas company. Must read this article Tommy Lee Net Worth. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship, and they wed in 1993. They've been married for three decades, and they're just as in love as they were on their wedding day. https://youtu.be/Vm2x7M9cqfc If you liked this article, follow our website, serveupdate.com, and don’t forget to follow our social media handles. Read the full article

[fmhiphop]

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills Suffered Cardiac Arrest On Field

Monday Night Football saw a disturbing scene when Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest while on the field. According to sources, Hamlin suffered the attack about nine minutes into their game versus the Cincinnati Bengals after tackling Tee Higgins. The play appeared normal to most watching, albeit a rather hard tackle for Hamlin. However, following the play, Hamlin immediately returned to his feet before taking two steps and collapsing on the field to the shock of officials, teammates, and fans of both teams. According to all sources, Damar Hamlin suffered from cardiac arrest following the tackle on Higgins, who slammed into Hamlin with a copious amount of force, which caused the horrific aftermath. Damar Hamlin's Accident and Aftermath Medical personnel quickly made their way to Hamlin, wherein Hamlin received the needed treatment. Despite their efforts, Hamlin left the stadium on a stretcher in critical condition. Both teams became visibly affected during the ordeal; some began praying together for Hamlin's health. Following about an hour of play delay, the NFL announced the game to be postponed. Vice President of NFL football operations released a statement, "Neither coach was talking about resuming play, the players were not thinking of resuming play..." As of this morning, Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition at University of Cincinnati Hospital. Where at least one hundred saddened fans gathered to support Hamlin and gain information on his condition, this story is ongoing. More details about Hamlin's condition will follow as they become available. The Sports World's Reactions Despite the horrible event, it did bring the sports world together in support of Hamlin, his family, and his teammates. The NFL Players Association released a statement in which they bluntly claimed Damar Hamlin's recovery was the only matter of any fundamental importance. This sentiment echoed throughout the world of professional football. Arizona Cardinals defensive end announced support. Likewise, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Hamlin's teammate Josh Allen asked fans to support Hamlin through prayer. Josh Allen's simple tweet read, "please pray for our brother." The support came from outside of the football world.  After setting a franchise scoring record of 71 points, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell offered his support for Hamlin. During a postgame interview, the record-setting shooting guard stated, "Prayers up for the Bills safety. I had heard about it but didn't see it. I wish him and his family. … we're praying for 'em, all of us in the locker room," Tennis stars Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff voiced support for Hamlin. Pegula is the daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of Hamlin's team, the Buffalo Bills. Even all-time sports icons Lebron James and Mike Trout offered support. Unified Support for the Young Player Damar Hamlin's horrible accident set the world ablaze. Many around the United States have Hamlin in their mind and prayers. They range from an average Monday Night Football viewer to billionaire sports figures. While the country waits for updates on the player's health, perhaps it remains best to heed Josh Allen's advice and offer up support for Hamlin however they can. Expect updates to this ongoing story. Ryan Fields Read the full article

[thingsmk1120sayz]

I want Rick Martin's ghost to haunt Terry and Kim Pegula for the rest of there lives!

[licoriceismyworld]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cdv2yPflfz2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cdwb0l_liIJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[kelseadaily]

Buffalo Sabres At Black River Entertainment and Sound Stage Studios hosted by Terry And Kim Pegula in Nashville, Tennessee - March 26, 2014

[andrewuttaro]

The End of the Eichel Era

Back in the lonely summer of 2020 I started a Youtube channel built around reacting to the Buffalo Sabres. My first series of videos in that regard was a recap of the prior 2019-2020 season: a season so crazy leading into the COVID pause that I thought it couldn’t be topped. My vlog reactions to the upcoming season would be the start of something new. I didn’t think it could possibly get worse than the season of the Duane Rant. Oh, Andrew: you doe-faced believer. Oh, how wrong I was.

After a season that saw a 17-game losing streak, a rightful coaching change, an injury carousel out of a cartoon including injuries untold to Captain Jack Eichel, the bar for a bad season has reached a new low even us rugged Sabres fans. There were rays of hope toward the end of this past season. A bevy of young players making their impact playing for pride on a feisty Don Granato led squad made another lost season, the tenth in a row without a playoff berth, somewhat enjoyable. Due to roster flexibility that bordered on frightening there was also reason to hope a roster that could finally make a postseason was within reach for a rookie GM that has no choice but to prove himself. There was hope. Was is the operative word there.

On May 10th, 2021, the organization’s most notable players gave their exit interviews to the team followed by brief pressers with the media. Before the Captain even appeared on the Zoom link the mood was dreary. Rasmus Ristolainen once again made it clear he would rather not be here. Sam Reinhart, a UFA this offseason, was non-committal at best about his future with the team. Then it was time for the Captain to speak… then Jake McCabe went first. Evidently his exit interview went long. When Eichel did get on the call what followed was nothing short of the siren marking the beginning of the end of the Eichel Era in Buffalo.

The root of the issues seemed to be disagreement about how to handle Eichel’s injuries. There was a broken rib prior to the season as well as something else still somewhat unclear. Team doctors evidently wanted him to not go forward with a surgery. He got a second opinion. The schism only grew. With five seasons left on his massive 80-million-dollar contract and a full NMC is affect all the power lays with the Buffalo Sabres organization. As Jack Eichel detailed his intent to look out for himself in no uncertain terms he was leveraging the only power he has in the situation which has gotten worse and worse: speaking publicly. If you didn’t hear any of these comments live or read any shortly thereafter you might lose the severity. To sum it up in one tidbit: Eichel literally referenced a hypothetical wife and kids he’ll have one day and how he’ll be a father. What this team has made him endure is on par with a major life event.

The insanity of the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement rules on medical second opinions aside: the relationship between ownership, the front office and Jack Eichel’s camp is broken beyond repair now. When an employer makes you endure a health situation you don’t want to be in then you better believe there will be discord. There is no mending this fisher. There is no denying any longer that Eichel will move on one way or another. To put in bluntly: it is over with Jack Eichel in Buffalo. It is a matter of time now before a trade salvages anything for the all-star top line center in what will almost certainly be a losing trade for the Sabres.

Jack Eichel has been the face of the Buffalo Sabres franchise since he was drafted in 2015. He was the fruit of a contentious tank. A torturous rebuild followed that had to be rest in 2017 and again in 2018 and… is still continuing today I suppose. Jack Eichel has done everything he could. I think I speak for every reasonable hockey fan in Buffalo when I say the end of this relationship is the result of Front Office mismanagement of Eichel himself and the roster beyond him on top of so many other things. From the beginning of their ownership in 2011 Terry and Kim Pegula have hurt the name of the once proud Buffalo Sabres. It began with Pat Lafontaine’s ouster and now it is visited upon us with the impending departure of Jack Eichel. Four General Managers and seven coaches have tried to lead the Sabres under Pegula ownership and the only one who managed a playoff berth was gone the year after. The coming end of the Eichel Era is a symptom of the Pegula Era. And I didn’t even bring up the knockoff alumni jerseys or the myriad public relations catastrophes they have wrought on the blue and gold.

The final Chapter in Jack Eichel’s time as a Sabre is being written as you read this. Certainly, the Pegulas will have some kind of strategic response to Eichel’s comments through their good soldier GM Kevyn Adams shortly. This will get ugly or put in a better way: this is just what is already ugly becoming public. We could talk about how their reputation in Buffalo maybe saved by the recent success of the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and fantasize about them selling the Sabres organization as some virtuous self-realization of the harm they’ve done. That is fantasy. What is not fantasy is what this organization has become.

I’m turning 27 this month. Most people my age have only known this team as synonymous with sorrow, save for a few glorious years in the late 2000s. This was not the Buffalo Sabres of old. The first forty years of this franchise was something to behold even though it lacked a Stanley Cup banner. The terrible drafting is the one consistent throughout, but I digress: what are the Buffalo Sabres? What is this franchise? We keep reaching out in the dark for rock bottom praying to ourselves it exists at all. Every season since 2016 we have only seen regression. Every move has ultimately amounted to shifting deck chairs on the Titanic. The good moves and happy stretches like the ten-game winning steak in 2018 are clearly the exceptions not the rule in retrospect.

An impossibly long list of items from the Ryan O’Reilly trade that saw spare parts come back for a center who went onto a Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup to acquiring Taylor Hall in a signing the owner contended would signal the team was going to win a Cup, not just make the playoffs. Taylor Hall is in Boston now where the last team that truly tested a good Sabres squad in an infamous instance of running-the-goalie in 2011 has been good for a decade. The Sabres goalie Milan Lucic ran, Ryan Miller, a legend in his own right, retired this season. It has been so long since a team worthy of gracing the ravenous hockey market that is Western New York has played that you’d be hard pressed to find a former Sabre who has made the playoff with them still in the league. If there was ever glory associated with the crossed swords it has faded from the public consciousness to the point a generation is unfamiliar with it.

When Jack Eichel is traded there is an outside chance a fair return will be achieved from one of about two teams in this league who could swing it. As Eichel acknowledged in his own comments, it’s the team that has all the cards in this: they can wait until the right offer comes along because clearly there is no intention for things to get better in Buffalo very shortly. Yet another rebuild, perhaps even another tank, awaits on the near horizon. With the Eichel Era coming to end in Buffalo its hard to imagine what’s next. In 2014-2015 we dreamed a young contender helmed by one of Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel might lead us to better days. Now those better days are just a song we remember from a hype video 15 years ago.

A team signs and unwritten contract when they acquire a franchise player as I wrote last year about this exact situation. It is now unquestionable that the Buffalo Sabres, or at least the owners of the franchise, have broken that unwritten contract beyond repair. Their continued mismanagement has cratered the franchise they bought with such zeal for the roundel crest. Now we venture forward into unknown depths few franchises have ventured into in this league and lived to tell the tale. The franchise probably survives for various external reasons but now it will be a living relic of how no number of frenzied fans, no amount of hope, can get you a sustainable team if you can’t build something worthy of the great athletes handed to you.

[investmart007]

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. | Russ Brandon resigns as Bills, Sabres president

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/LbmqvY

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. | Russ Brandon resigns as Bills, Sabres president

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Russ Brandon abruptly resigned his dual role as president of the NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Buffalo Sabres in a major shake-up for the teams’ owners, Terry and Kim Pegula.

The Pegulas announced in a press release on Tuesday that they accepted Brandon’s resignation Tuesday afternoon.

Kim Pegula will take over Brandon’s roles overseeing the Bills, Sabres and Pegula Sports Entertainment, the company that controls the owners’ numerous holdings. The Pegulas provided no reason for Brandon’s departure after a 20-year tenure that started with the Bills.

In a text to The Associated Press, Brandon would only say he has contemplated stepping down from the job for some time, and felt the timing was right after the conclusion of the NFL draft.

“My goal when the Pegulas purchased the franchise was to reach 20 years with the Bills, in which I achieved this past November,” Brandon wrote.

“As grateful as I am for the amazing experience and the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with the past two decades, I am just as anxious for the professional opportunities that lie ahead,” he added.

Brandon’s departure comes after the Bills made a big splash in the first round of the draft by trading up to select both Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with the seventh pick, and Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th pick. The new additions join a Bills team that went 9-7 and ended a 17-year playoff drought last year.

On Saturday, the last-place Sabres earned a boost by winning the NHL draft lottery and the right to the No. 1 pick for the third time in franchise history.

“We have a tremendous amount of confidence in the strong leadership team we have built within each of these entities over the last several years,” the statement from the Pegulas read. “We are excited about the direction of our teams, especially after this past weekend’s NFL draft and NHL lottery results. Our focus remains on building championship teams on and off the field for our fans and community.”

Brandon most recently served as the Bills managing partner, was the Sabres alternate on the NHL’s board of governors and a member of the NFL’s business ventures committee.

The timing of Brandon’s exit is curious, given his role in overseeing both franchises as well as being responsible for heading the Bills’ next big venture in determining their future home. Brandon was expected to lead the team’s stadium search committee in deciding whether the Bills should continue playing at their current home or develop a new facility in downtown Buffalo.

He served in various roles with the Bills, involving both marketing and football decisions during a two-year stint as general manager from 2008-09. He also took the lead in negotiating the Bills most recent lease five years ago, which played a critical role in securing the franchise’s long-term future in Buffalo especially following late-Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson’s death in March 2014.

The lease included a strict non-relocation clause that included a $400 million penalty the team would be forced to pay if it considered moving before 2020.

Brandon also oversaw the Bills’ eventual sale to the Pegulas, who completed their $1.4 billion purchase of the franchise in October 2014.

The Pegulas retained Brandon and elevated him to the role of managing partner. The Pegulas thought so highly of Brandon, the Sabres were added to his responsibilities after the team reached a mutual agreement to part ways with Ted Black in July 2015.

Brandon’s resignation continues a large turnover of Bills executives who served under Wilson. Bruce Popko is the senior holdover and now becomes the top executive as chief operating officer of Buffalo-based Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the Pegulas’ numerous holdings.

Brandon grew up in nearby Syracuse, New York, and began making his mark in Buffalo shortly after being hired by the Bills in 1997 to serve as the team’s business development and marketing director.

He began by spearheading a campaign to transform them into a regional team by expanding the franchise’s fan base to offset Buffalo’s dropping population base.

That process began in 2000, when the team shifted training camp to Brandon’s alma mater, St. John Fisher College in suburban Rochester, to capitalize on the community’s corporate and larger population base.

Rochester is centrally located between Buffalo and Syracuse. The Bills previously held camp at the far more rural Fredonia College, about a 45-minute drive south of Buffalo.

Later, the Bills boosted their presence across southern Ontario by negotiating a deal to begin playing annual regular season games in Toronto starting in 2008. The “Bills In Toronto” series lasted through 2013 before the deal was placed on hold the following year and then terminated by the Pegulas.

While the games in Toronto didn’t sell out and lacked the vibrant atmosphere the Bills enjoy at Orchard Park, New York, the team benefited from playing in Canada’s largest city and financial capital.

Toronto-based media giant, Rogers Communications, paid the Bills $78 million to essentially lease eight games (five regular season and three preseason) during the initial five-year agreement. The price was almost double what the Bills were projected to generate if those games were played at their home facility.

The series also spurred a large bump in season-ticket purchases from across the border. By 2015, the Bills estimated southern Ontario fans accounted for about 18 percent of their season-ticket sales, surpassing their support from Rochester.

Not everything succeeded under Brandon, who drew criticism for a number of decisions, including failing to build a winner during his two-year stint as the Bills GM when Wilson elected to promote from within the organization after Marv Levy stepped down following a two-year tenure.

Brandon eventually hired GM Buddy Nix and stepped aside to focus on overseeing the franchise while Wilson’s health began to fail.

By JOHN WAWROW by Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC(U.S)

[fromthe-point]

The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team's 2019 preseason schedule. The team will play six games, including two home games at KeyBank Center. Ticket information and pricing will be announced at a later date.

Among their other five games, the Sabres will play three road games and a neutral-site contest at Pegula Ice Arena at Pennsylvania State University on Monday, Sept. 16 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Here is the complete 2018 Buffalo Sabres preseason schedule (all times ET):

Mon, Sept. 16: Sabres vs. Penguins - 7 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena (Penn State University)

Tues., Sept. 17: Sabres at Blue Jackets - 7 p.m. at Nationwide Arena

Fri., Sept. 20: Sabres at Maple Leafs - 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena

Sat., Sept. 21: Maple Leafs vs. Sabres - 7 p.m. at KeyBank Center

Wed., Sept. 25: Blue Jackets vs. Sabres - 7 p.m. at KeyBank Center

Sun., Sept. 28: Sabres at Penguins - 3 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena

The Sabres and Penguins will face off in a rematch of the last NHL contest at Pegula Ice Arena in 2017. The game will be the third-ever game contested between NHL teams at Pegula Ice Arena since the arena opened on Oct. 11, 2013 as home of Penn State's NCAA Division I men's and women's ice hockey teams. In addition to the 2017 preseason meeting between Buffalo and Pittsburgh, the Sabres previously opened their 2016 preseason schedule at Penn State against the Minnesota Wild.

The 5,782-seat arena, which was funded as part of a $102 million donation by Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula, was planned in 2010 with the amenities required to host professional exhibition games.

[subsidystadium]

The Buffalo Bills promised fans that their PSL's would "never" price fans out, yet they are doing exactly that

When an NFL team builds a new stadium, it is normal for the price of tickets at the new place to be higher than previous years at the old stadium. Some teams raise the price of all tickets around the new stadium, while others force their own fans to buy a personal seat license (PSL). – Statista This scam program allows a team to charge fans a one-time fee that grants the fan the right to buy…

[quotidiantimes]

Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula 'progressing well' from a health issue

Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula ‘progressing well’ from a health issue

The Pegula family announced on June 14 that she was “receiving medical care as a result of some unexpected health issues.” Pegula has been the co-owner of the Bills since 2014, when she purchased the franchise with her husband, Terry, for more than $1 billion. The pair also own the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, making Pegula the first woman to become president of both an NFL and NHL team. “We are…

[hariharan5901]

Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula 'progressing well' from a health issue

Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula ‘progressing well’ from a health issue

The Pegula family announced on June 14 that she was “receiving medical care as a result of some unexpected health issues.” Pegula has been the co-owner of the Bills since 2014, when she purchased the franchise with her husband, Terry, for more than $1 billion. The pair also own the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, making Pegula the first woman to become president of both an NFL and NHL team. “We are…

[fmhiphop]

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills Suffered Cardiac Arrest On Field

Monday Night Football saw a disturbing scene when Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest while on the field. According to sources, Hamlin suffered the attack about nine minutes into their game versus the Cincinnati Bengals after tackling Tee Higgins. The play appeared normal to most watching, albeit a rather hard tackle for Hamlin. However, following the play, Hamlin immediately returned to his feet before taking two steps and collapsing on the field to the shock of officials, teammates, and fans of both teams. According to all sources, Damar Hamlin suffered from cardiac arrest following the tackle on Higgins, who slammed into Hamlin with a copious amount of force, which caused the horrific aftermath. Damar Hamlin's Accident and Aftermath Medical personnel quickly made their way to Hamlin, wherein Hamlin received the needed treatment. Despite their efforts, Hamlin left the stadium on a stretcher in critical condition. Both teams became visibly affected during the ordeal; some began praying together for Hamlin's health. Following about an hour of play delay, the NFL announced the game to be postponed. Vice President of NFL football operations released a statement, "Neither coach was talking about resuming play, the players were not thinking of resuming play..." As of this morning, Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition at University of Cincinnati Hospital. Where at least one hundred saddened fans gathered to support Hamlin and gain information on his condition, this story is ongoing. More details about Hamlin's condition will follow as they become available. The Sports World's Reactions Despite the horrible event, it did bring the sports world together in support of Hamlin, his family, and his teammates. The NFL Players Association released a statement in which they bluntly claimed Damar Hamlin's recovery was the only matter of any fundamental importance. This sentiment echoed throughout the world of professional football. Arizona Cardinals defensive end announced support. Likewise, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Hamlin's teammate Josh Allen asked fans to support Hamlin through prayer. Josh Allen's simple tweet read, "please pray for our brother." The support came from outside of the football world.  After setting a franchise scoring record of 71 points, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell offered his support for Hamlin. During a postgame interview, the record-setting shooting guard stated, "Prayers up for the Bills safety. I had heard about it but didn't see it. I wish him and his family. … we're praying for 'em, all of us in the locker room," Tennis stars Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff voiced support for Hamlin. Pegula is the daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of Hamlin's team, the Buffalo Bills. Even all-time sports icons Lebron James and Mike Trout offered support. Unified Support for the Young Player Damar Hamlin's horrible accident set the world ablaze. Many around the United States have Hamlin in their mind and prayers. They range from an average Monday Night Football viewer to billionaire sports figures. While the country waits for updates on the player's health, perhaps it remains best to heed Josh Allen's advice and offer up support for Hamlin however they can. Expect updates to this ongoing story. Ryan Fields Read the full article

[junker-town]

The Broncos could diversify the NFL’s ownership, but nepotism is getting in the way

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL’s owners are generally very wealthy, very white, and very old men, and that’s not likely to change with the sale of the Broncos.

There are currently five ownership groups in the mix vying to buy the Denver Broncos. But despite five options from which to choose, and promising the groups a fair shot and transparency in the bidding process, the league seems poised to sell the Broncos to yet another old, white billionaire.

Rob Walton, the cousin-in-law of Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the heir to the Walmart fortune, will likely be the next owner of the Denver Broncos. Walton is about as rich as they come, with a net worth of $65.5 billion. The Broncos were originally projected to sell for about $4 billion, which would have made the team the most expensive professional sports franchise in North America, and that’s basically pocket change for Walton. As of Tuesday morning, reports were circulating that the sale price of the team is now expected to exceed $5 billion. There aren’t many people who can compete with Walton’s massive wealth in this realm, and the vast majority of the people who can are other old, rich, white men.

According to a source close to the bidding process, Walton has offered to sweeten the deal by committing $1 billion toward a new stadium in Denver, and he has also indicated that he will just outbid any of the other groups who try to make a serious run at ownership.

The NFL has a diversity problem off the field, and we see that in its hiring practices and in the current demographics of NFL team owners today. Of the 32 teams, just three are owned by people who aren’t white and male. Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Kim Pegula, who owns the Buffalo Bills along with her husband, Terry, are the only two owners who were born outside of the United States and aren’t white. Sheila Ford Hamp, a descendent of the extremely wealthy Ford and Firestone families, is the principal owner of the Lions. The NFL has had 110 people in principal ownership positions of NFL teams over the past 100 years, per the Associated Press. Khan and Pegula are the only two non-white people to hold those positions over that span.

Prior to the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that increasing diversity in the owners’ ranks was a priority.

“We would love to see a diverse owner of the team,” said Goodell, via CNBC. “Whether that’s a person of color, or a female or a Black man, we think that would be a really positive step for us, and something that we’ve encouraged.”

If the NFL really wants to make the league more diverse off the field, something’s going to have to give at the ownership level. But it appears that’s not going to happen with the sale of the Broncos.

What we know about the sale process so far

Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos in 1984 for $71 million, and when he passed away in June 2019, the team was transferred into the Pat Bowlen Trust. The Broncos announced in Feb. 2022 that the team would be available for sale. The Bowlen Trust retained Steve Greenberg of Allen & Company as their financial advisor and Joe Leccese of Proskauer Rose LLP as the legal advisor for the sale.

We’re aware of the identities of three of the groups bidding on the team — in addition to Walton, there’s a group led by Josh Harris, who co-owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, and a group led by Todd Boehly, who is an investor in the Los Angeles Dodgers. There are two other ownership groups in play whose information has not been made publicly available.

What sets Walton apart from these other groups is, you guessed it, his deep pockets. And no matter what was promised to potential ownership groups as far as fairness and transparency in the process, it seems like the deep pockets were the deciding factor.

Walton’s candidacy is supported by Kroenke, who is already a member of the rich old boys’ club that is NFL ownership, and behind the scenes, a source close to the situation told SB Nation that Kroenke is advocating for Walton with the NFL and other owners.

“I know there’s a lot of backroom dealing, and the billionaires are all just playing with people’s lives, like they’re chess pieces,” the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to their proximity to the sale process, said. “But at the end of the day, what we do know is that Stan Kroenke, he has basically been lobbying and pressuring other team owners on behalf of [Rob Walton] to say, there’s only one group that you guys should and will vote for, and [the owners are] a similar group. So it’s really, from kind of every angle, the process seems to have been rigged in the favor of Rob Walton, which unfortunately for the league, is kind of a perpetuation of the same reality that’s causing all the issues with minorities and social justice.

“You can paint platitudes on the field and on the back of players’ helmets. But the reality is, you don’t change the core, fundamental structure of what’s driving the economics of the league, and how that value is being shared between all stakeholders in a more equitable manner and how you can have all stakeholders properly represented.”

That’s hard to do when the purchasing power required to buy a team is so over-the-top to begin with. Walton, who inherited wealth that his family built by essentially running small retail businesses across the US out of business with the allure of Walmart’s low prices, wouldn’t need to assume any debt to buy the Broncos, and on top of that, he could easily toss in an extra billion here to build a new stadium in Denver, and an extra billion there to price out other bidders.

Does Denver even need a new stadium?

Objectively, no. At least not according to Broncos fans. Via SB Nation Reacts:

A billion dollars isn’t going to fully fund a brand new, state-of-the-art multi-use stadium. SoFi Stadium, where the Rams and Chargers play their home games, is estimated to have cost somewhere between $4 and $5 billion. Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders, cost $1.9 billion. Given current supply chain challenges and the rising cost of construction materials, $4 billion for a new stadium that’s up to the NFL’s contemporary standards is a pretty conservative estimate. And based on recent NFL history, it’s fair to expect all of the expenses beyond the $1 billion Walton is reportedly willing to toss in would come out of the pockets of Denver taxpayers.

Nepotism and racist hiring structures are holding the NFL back

It’s interesting that this conversation is happening around the Broncos, who were explicitly named in former Dolphins head coach and current Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores’ lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices from multiple NFL teams.

Per the complaint:

Indeed, in 2019 Mr. Flores was scheduled to interview with the Denver Broncos. However, the Broncos’ then-General Manager, John Elway, President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Ellis and others, showed up an hour late to the interview. They looked completely disheveled, and it was obvious that they had been drinking heavily the night before. It was clear from the substance of the interview that Mr. Flores was interviewed only because of the Rooney Rule, and that the Broncos never had any intention to consider him as a legitimate candidate for the. job. Shortly thereafter, Vic Fangio, a white man, was hired to the Head Coach of the Broncos.

The NFL insists that teams adhere to the Rooney Rule, which requires that at least two women or people of color be interviewed for key openings, in good faith despite plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. The league also acknowledges the homogeny of its ownership group and gives lip service to the idea of diversifying it.

But considering the NFL’s strict rules around team ownership — a majority owner must hold at least 30% of a team, and the debt limit on a franchise cannot exceed $1 billion dollars — it would take intentional steps to make team ownership accessible to people other than the most privileged class in the country — multi-billionaires, who tend to most frequently be older, white, and male. And Walton is lucky enough to also have his wife’s cousin — another very wealthy older white man in the NFL ownership ranks — advocating for him behind the scenes.

Instead of prioritizing a diverse ownership group, the Broncos appear to be leaning toward the status quo by selling to yet another old, white, male billionaire. From Woody Paige of The Gazette:

Sources said that Walton is the favorite because (A) he can outbid Harris and associates (B) he has such a close connection to Kroenke, (C) he owns a home in Aspen (in addition to his three-home compound in Scottsdale, Ariz., (D) he has a son and family in Boulder (E) and he likely would build a new stadium in Denver to rival Kroenke’s in Los Angeles.

Notice that there’s zero mention of a diverse ownership group or prioritizing equity and inclusion. It’s just a rundown of how mind-blowingly rich Walton is and how easy it would be for him to pay $1 billion toward a new stadium that Denver doesn’t currently need, and conveniently neglects to mention that taxpayers would foot the rest of the bill.

“A democratic free society with a free market can do things differently, and the NFL could be one of the places where that model is put on full display,” the source close to the bidding process for the Broncos told SB Nation. And that’s not what’s happening behind the scenes.

“Again, I think Rob Walton and Walmart is pretty much the opposite of what the league needs,” the source said. “And I think that’s really what [the NFL] needs to take note of. And more importantly, it’s like, hey, whatever you’re gonna do, run a process that’s fair and inclusive and transparent.”

[anthonybialy]

Bills for Taxpayers

Taxpayers lose.  The poor Buffalo Bills are getting $850 freaking goddamn million from taxpayers whether or not those made to contribute enjoy football or notice public stadiums only make owners richer.  Top hat-wearers simply can't afford a command center for their action figures, so those who coast to the supermarket in order to afford enough breadcrumbs for meatloaf are pressed into action. The film adaptation won't be as stirring as hoped.

Terry and Kim Pegula are multibillionaire welfare queens.  The Buffalo Bills owners made taxpayers partners without consent or benefits. Oh, and nobody else gets shares.  Followers of present politics and professional sports are unsurprised by handouts to those equipped to live the most opulently. The fact state intervention is now business as usual merely makes ransom payments worse.

The rare instance of bipartisanship gets squandered by shrieking. Entitlements for the richest unite liberals and conservatives in resistance. The former feel revenue taken from paychecks is best suited to fund day care for orphans of illegal immigrants, while the latter thinks earnings should never be seized in the first place to enable private financing of constitutional law centers at gun ranges.

But brutes win again. Politics are depressingly dominated by a coalition of those who live in panic of not cheering and enemies of mathematics. Greedy owners exploit the fear of losing sports teams to Albuquerque in order to manipulate compliant politicians who don't want to be in office when franchises flee. It's easy to feel relieved about a 30-year lease without perusing alarming details. Some inattentive fans just want to know the team isn't in danger of relocating without paying attention to how costly the chains are.

Rubes applauding like seals align with demented fools who think government is good at spurring economies. Here in reality, grand schemers in state capitals never gets the score back to zero, much less ahead. The only good thing about publicly-funded venues is that it's the one issue that unites economists who universally note they're terrible investments. Force is a troubling sign. Winning by cheating is never rewarding.

Building bleachers around fake grass so men can hit each other is just another wasteful involuntary cash toss. If they’re good deals, owners should be glad to pay crane operators out of pocket with future profits in mind. If they’re bad, then the entire shady enterprise must be re-examined. A state's core role is apparently to keep sports owners artificially wealthy. Government truly inspires.

An impossibly rich league mugged you to feed its children. The NFL had dump trucks full of cash before you needed that to buy bread.

The Bills are still not in Buffalo despite their name. Their location beats the New Jersey Jets and Giants, but they should nonetheless head to their spiritual center. The chance to redevelop a city they ostensibly call home will be postponed until at least the mid-2050s. It's too bad that, say, the abandoned housing projects blighting a huge portion of the city couldn't be turned into a thriving sports site except for how it totally could.  Missed opportunities don't only define this team's play.

There were even worse mistakes in the '70s than the Starland Vocal Band. The strategy to deal with residents escaping declining metropolises was to make it a race. As a result of moving major projects outside city limits, urban areas decayed even faster while residential areas were disrupted by capital projects like a strange dream. Now, the Bills stay in an unsuitable neighborhood at public expense, Squandering a second chance is like re-hiring Rex Ryan.

Orchard Park should be the Empire State’s economic powerhouse instead of a quiet suburb with a massive coliseum stuck in the middle of it. The Bronx somehow isn’t paradisiacal around Yankee Stadium despite an astounding fortune sunk into it by Albany, either, but there's no other way the obscure team that calls it home could ever make its own bucks.

It isn't fair how others got to rip off the public. Previous panhandling clubs got their philosophically and economically childish demands for funding met, and the Pegulas aren't about to be grownups. Obeying precedent is a mindless way to ensure misery continues. Maybe stadiums would be cheaper if owners were watching their own budgets. But I'm sure government is renowned for keeping down costs.

These alleged leaders can't be coached up. This a singularly awful time to allow politicians to determine the area's sporting future for decades. The arrogantly lunkheaded Kathy Hochul makes up for not killing grandparents by the thousands or fondling every woman within reach like her inept mob boss predecessor by invading even more deeply into everyday life. Getting suckered by manipulative sports owners into paying bills is a sign she's as shrewd practically as she is philosophically. She thinks she's being complemented.

The state couldn’t lower taxes and let those who actually use the facility fund it like, oh, some business. Attendees could afford tickets on account of how those who rule over them don't take as much from their salaries. Compulsory payments aren't enough: the team is naturally still charging for personal seat licenses, which is a payment for the right to buy season tickets. People's republic-level confiscation is just the start.

It may not be impossible for someone worth 10 figures to get a loan. The rest of us shouldn't even bother to try if the very richest are unable to secure autonomous financing. Stick to checking return slots in any remaining payphones. The NHL team the Pegulas own plays in an arena named after a bank if they'd like an idea of where they could find funding for their little athletic enterprise.

Taxpayers back a stadium regardless of whether they cheer. And nobody should support a state whose projects turn out so poorly that they may as well be tanking. There's no draft for better politicians with nerve who can negotiate. Playoff outcasts couldn't make it in the private sector for good reason.

Mandatory contributions to remain in an inappropriate spot so bad that only government could've chosen it is how New York does things. It's a great deal otherwise.

Critical fans are treated suspiciously for noticing results. Those aware of the state's spectacularly awful won-loss record are the ones trying to encourage advancement. Supporters can chant for a team and still loathe how its owners mooch off citizens. Decades of voluntarily-displayed loyalty apparently didn't create enough trust. Cheering for mercenaries to control placement of a ball wasn't irrational enough.