Broncos President Joe Ellis Talks Ownership, Hall of Fame Hopes for Champ Bailey, Pat Bowlen by Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 27, 2018
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Broncos president Joe Ellis talks ownership, Hall of Fame hopes for Champ Bailey, Pat Bowlen By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 27, 2018 Last season, Broncos minority owner John Bowlen announced his intention to sell his non-voting stake in the team. His oil-and-gas company in Canada filed for bankruptcy a year earlier and the time was right for him to test the market, he said. But in the ensuing five months, the Broncos took steps to ensure multiple parties benefit from his desire to sell. Last week The Denver Post learned the team planned to buy back a portion of John Bowlen’s interest for an undisclosed amount. Sunday, the deal was finalized. “What went into it was the feeling that we had, as trustees, that it was really Pat’s desire to consolidate when he could,” Broncos president, CEO and controlling owner delegee Joe Ellis said. “So we followed through on that and John was very understanding and very willing and open to working with us. So we were able to construct a deal that was beneficial to both parties.” The deal provided John Bowlen a financial gain while remaining a significant minority owner of the team. It also enlarged the total interest that would be split among Pat Bowlen’s children when and if Pat’s ownership is passed down to them. And perhaps most significantly, it kept ownership fo the team within the Bowlen family. “I think the family itself would like to see that happen and eventually when a child is named in control of the team for the future,” Ellis said. “Certainly the transaction with that in mind, to keep the team in Pat’s family.” Any news of the Broncos’ ownership usually draws the same what-ifs and speculation about the team’s future. But when asked again if the trust had any plans to sell the team, Ellis said flatly: “No.” Hall hopes. The year of 2019 could be a significant one for the Denver Broncos in Canton. Former cornerback Champ Bailey will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time since retiring in 2014 and Pat Bowlen could finally be inducted as a contributor. “That’d be exciting and well-deserved for each of them,” Ellis said. “I think Champ’s going to get in. It was just a great career that he had. And it’s time for Mr. B to get in, too. His accomplishments are well- noted; we’ve been through that many times before and I hope the (selection) committee recognizes that as we get closer to that meeting for the contributors. We got our fingers crossed. This could and should be his year.” Up to two contributors can be selected for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019, and the finalists are usually revealed in August. Broncos stadium naming rights could be tied to new entertainment district By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 27, 2018 The idea had been discussed for years, but last week the first steps were taken and revealed to the public. The Denver Broncos, the Metropolitan Football Stadium District (MFSD) and the Denver Department of Community Planning and Development offered the first look at a new mixed-use development project that would replace about half of the stadium’s parking lots with bars, restaurants, housing and entertainment options. “I think it was (Broncos chief commercial officer) Mac Freeman who said last week that it feels like the starter gun went off. And it kind of did,” team president/CEO Joe Ellis said Monday at the NFL’s annual meetings. “It’s a great opportunity for the city and county of Denver. It is one of the last pieces of untapped real estate.” The vision is in its infancy without a developer on board yet, and the plan is long-term. Ellis, echoing earlier comments of district and city officials, said the impetus for the project is primarily two-fold, with expected benefits to the team and its 17-year-old stadium, as well as the city and neighboring districts. The team has projected the cost of capital projects at the stadium over the next 25 years to be around $500 million to $700 million. Lease payments from the new entertainment district would ease the financial burden and would be integral to the maintenance of the stadium. But a naming rights partner is vital to carry the load. “It’s really being done to try and make sure we’re prepared for all the various capital repair and needs that the stadium will have in the future,” Ellis said. “Because otherwise we’re going to be stuck with the building the way the team and city were stuck with Mile High Stadium, which was not a viable building at the end of its tenure. We don’t think we need to get there. We got a great stadium and if we continue to maintain it, if we continue to improve it, that’s, from our standpoint, the primary goal. “Add on to that the city’s desire to grow in a reasonable and sensible fashion. It does make sense with two light rail stops, highway access, access to downtown, workforce requirements, housing requirements to happen to this land. As long as I said, we do it in a way that is not disruptive to the Denver Broncos and our fans.” But the project could have even greater implications. The Broncos’ two-year search for a stadium naming rights partner could be connected to the planned entertainment district. “Still in contact and in negotiations,” Ellis said. “I wouldn’t tell you we were close, but there’s an outside chance that this development would have some ties to the name on the building. And I don’t have a concrete explanation of what that would be at this time, but it certainly could be part of the deal long- term. It’s very important that we get the right partner — a partner that will be with us for a long period of time and not dissolve or go away or anything like that. We’re paying the tab right now that was left when Sports Authority went away. We’re going to continue to do that. It is an important piece of funding for the district in terms of capital repair, capital improvements. From that standpoint, we just have to make sure we get the right deal.” When Sports Authority went bankrupt, the Broncos assumed the remainder of the company’s naming rights contract — about $20 million of the original $60 million deal — and the team has been making regular payments to MFSD. Ellis said doing so hasn’t hindered the team’s ability to continue to make upgrades and repairs to the stadium, but long term it isn’t feasible or efficient. The project is expected to be rolled out in phases, and Ellis said it could take up to 10 years to complete. And the timeline, as well as well as the prolonged hunt for a naming parts partner, could be intertwined. “It is and it isn’t,” Ellis said. “There will be some conversations where it will factor in and there will be conversations that will be standalone about just putting the name on the stadium. We’ll kind of go down two tracks with that and leave all options open.” Joe Ellis addresses Elway performance, National Anthem, neighborhood plans, stadium name By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 27, 2018 Peyton Manning just turned 42 and he’s not coming back. Not to lift the Denver Broncos’ franchise to another unprecedented run of excellence, anyway. So, exactly how has Broncos’ business been affected by the team’s 5-11 season? “We work harder to try and maintain our relationships with people,’’ Joe Ellis, the Broncos’ chief executive officer and president, said here Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “We do more to keep those in place. “But we have very, very, very loyal season-ticket members, fans. Our metrics are still tracking very, very highly. I’ve got to say I’m amazed by the support. “Now, they’re voicing their opinions and their displeasure. You can’t trick them. They know what happened last year. We were not a very competitive team, 5-11 being 5-11. We were out of a lot of games early and lost by big margins so they know what they’re looking at. They’re smart, they’re well informed … we know what we’ve got to do to satisfy them and we’ve got a long way to go, there’s no question about it. “But I’m optimistic that we can start to rebound and get back on the right track here soon.’’ In a wide-ranging interview with 9News, Ellis addressed the team’s involvement with a neighborhood development around their stadium, the stadium’s unknown name, the National Anthem, how general manager John Elway is doing this offseason in his attempt to improve the team’s roster that performed so poorly in 2017, the team’s purchase of a percentage of minority shares from John Bowlen, and realistic expectations for the Broncos in 2018. *The National Anthem The topic was raised during these league meetings, although no formal policy was acted upon. Should teams mandate their players to stand during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner? “I’m not going to reveal where I stand today,’’ Ellis said (in terms of what the NFL should do about the National Anthem). “I’d like all our players to stand.