The Walton-Penner group entered Denver with the largest sports franchise purchase in U.S. history. In less than 4 years, that investment has expanded beyond the Broncos into a broader strategy that now touches multiple teams, major redevelopment sites, and long-term real estate plays across the city.

Here is a timeline of their most significant moves.

2022: Record-setting acquisition
In August 2022, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group purchased the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion. The deal reset expectations for ownership influence in the NFL and immediately positioned the group as one of the most powerful ownership entities in professional sports.

Later that season, the group made its first major decision by firing head coach Nathaniel Hackett after a 4-11 start, signaling a willingness to act quickly.

2023: Leadership overhaul and Sean Payton hire
The Broncos hired Sean Payton in one of the most aggressive coaching moves in the NFL. Greg Penner was named controlling owner, formalizing leadership structure. The team finished 8-9, showing incremental improvement.

2022 to 2024: Russell Wilson era ends
The group moved on from Russell Wilson following the 2023 season, taking on a significant financial hit to reset the roster and direction of the franchise.

2024: New era begins on and off the field
The Broncos drafted Bo Nix in the first round, signaling a long-term quarterback reset.


Plans for a major redevelopment of the team’s practice facility began to take shape.


At the same time, Walton family real estate activity expanded, including a large residential estate project in Belcaro.


The team finished 10-7, marking a turning point in performance.

2025: Burnham Yard stadium and district announced
In September 2025, the Walton-Penner group identified Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a new Broncos stadium.

The proposal includes a multi-billion-dollar stadium and mixed-use district designed to anchor a new entertainment and development hub near downtown. The project is expected to be privately funded and is targeting an early 2030s opening.

This represents one of the most significant urban redevelopment opportunities currently planned in Denver.

2025 to 2026: Stadium process and land strategy
Following the announcement, the group began advancing planning, land assembly, and public engagement tied to the Burnham Yard site.

Ownership has described the timeline as ambitious, with multiple approvals and partnerships required before construction begins.

2026: Expansion into Major League Baseball
In 2026, the Penner Sports Group acquired a significant minority stake in the Colorado Rockies, estimated at roughly 40 percent.

The investment expands the group’s influence across multiple major league franchises in Denver and positions them as a central figure in the city’s professional sports landscape.

The takeaway
The Walton-Penner strategy in Denver has moved quickly from franchise acquisition to full ecosystem development.

What began as a $4.65 billion purchase is now evolving into a multi-layered platform that includes team control, quarterback resets, coaching leadership, stadium development, and cross-league ownership.

With Burnham Yard and the Rockies investment now in play, the next phase will likely extend beyond sports and further into shaping how Denver grows over the next decade.