Penner Sports Group, a company run by the Penner family which owns the NFL’s Denver Broncos, has purchased a minority share in the Rockies. The MLB franchise announced the news this afternoon.
The Rockies specified only that the Penner investment made them the largest minority stakeholder under the Monfort family, which retains majority ownership. Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post provides specifics, reporting that the Penners are purchasing a 40% share of the franchise.
The team didn’t disclose the sale price, though Saunders writes that it’s believed to be around $672MM. The Rockies’ statement said the influx of cash allows them to “retire all outstanding debt while providing additional investment in the team.” It’s unclear if it’ll have any impact on player payrolls in the future. The Penners will remain focused on the Broncos and are not going to have daily responsibilities with the Rockies, Saunders reports.
Most of the major Denver sports franchises, the Broncos included, have been successful in recent years. The Rockies are coming off the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history. They’ve had seven straight losing campaigns and dropped 119 games last year, tied for third-most in MLB history.
They’ve started this season respectably, going 6-7 while outscoring opponents by six runs, but are unlikely to be even a .500 club for some time. Colorado opened this season with a $117MM payroll, according to The Associated Press, the 21st-highest mark in the league. That’s down marginally from their $122MM season-opening figure in 2025.
This more good news as the Prenner Sports Group has been successful with the Broncos. Many of us have wanted new ownership, but at least they have 40%. Fans have suffered through well over a decade of non competitive baseball so we are hopeful for better days ahead.
great news for the rockies!
Denver sports teams are on the upswing for success.
Kroeneke Sports (NBA Nuggets, NHL Avalanche, NFL LA Rams) invest significantly in their teams success.
Penner and Walton (Wal-Mart families) have turned around the NFL Broncos, and are paying to build them a new stadium, and now have invested over half a billion dollars, for now, a 40% minority owner of the Rockies.
This is good news for Rockies fans, to go along with the recent complete makeover of the Front Office and overhaul of player development philosophy. Deep pockets will most likely assist the team to compete more equitably in the near future.
The Broncos owners are coming on as minority partners, but it may signal that the Rockies will make more significant changes like what Walker Monfort has already started.
That’s a low valuation, even for a dogshit franchise. $1.68 billion. Penner stole that 40%. Well, stole is very strong, but still, to quote Bill Simmons, “In rich guy circles, that’s nothing.”
I had this thought too – but perhaps minority stakes are less attractive and priced accordingly?
Rockies are usually top ten in attendance. It’s a pretty solid franchise financially.
I wonder if there is an agreement in place like there is for the White Sox where a minority partner invests with the opportunity to buy a majority share at some point?