The Broncos owners had a now-familiar visitor in for a tour of their gleaming new headquarters and training facility Tuesday: Rockies chairman and CEO Dick Monfort.
Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner are more than just peers with Monfort these days. They’re also business partners after Penner Sports Group purchased a 40% stake in the Rockies in April in a deal that was estimated to be around $670 million.
Penner, speaking to reporters Tuesday for the first time since purchasing the stake in Colorado’s Major League Baseball team, said he got to know Monfort, 72, over breakfasts they get together for 2-3 times per year.
“Carrie and I have had a chance to get to know the Monforts in the 4-5 years we’ve been here,” Penner said. … “They were ready to bring on a partner and we couldn’t be more excited about doing something here in the Denver market. We’ve grown up baseball fans as well and, as you know, itap a terrific fanbase, ballpark and we’re really pleased to join the ownership group there.”
At the time of the purchase, the Penners made it clear they would play a support role and take no active part in the daily operations of the baseball franchise. The lingering question, of course, is whether Monfort might one day decide to give up his controlling interest in the team. If he did, the Penners now sit in a position as 40% shareholders to potentially assume control.
Penner didn’t say specifically Tuesday when asked directly if his company had an option to take a controlling stake in the Rockies at some point in the future.
“Right now we’re just focused on being supportive minority partners,” Penner said. “The Monforts are in full control and we’re going to do what we can to support them.”
