Football Legend Peyton Manning Joins ownership team of NWSL's Denver franchise
Denver's NWSL expansion team gains a significant player in the form of Peyton Manning, former NFL quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos. The legendary sports figure joins the ranks of team ownership, stepping into the shoes alongside his brother Eli, minority owner of Gotham FC.
The expansion club's leadership is helmed by controlling owner Rob Cohen, Chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group. Alongside Manning, other esteemed investors like Ariel Investments' Co-CEO Mellody Hobson, Molly Coors, World Cup alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and others make up a diverse and influential ownership group that aims to foster a community-focused, inclusive sports club [1][3].
Before gracing the soccer pitch at Denver, the team will take shape in a temporary 12,000-seat stadium in Centennial, Colorado. Future plans call for a permanent 14,500-seat soccer stadium to open in the Sante Fe Yards entertainment district in 2028 [1][2].
Denver's new team earned a coveted spot in the NWSL following an investment of a hefty $110 million, shattering the previous NWSL record and setting a landmark in U.S. women's sports expansion fees [1][4]. The team is poised for its debut in the 2026 season, marking the return of professional women's soccer to Denver since the folding of the Denver Diamonds in 2009 [2][4].
(This story has been updated with supplementary information in the final two paragraphs.)
Insights
Manning's Media Empire:
As a hands-on media mogul, Manning founded Omaha Productions in 2016, the company behind the acclaimed ESPN production Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, estimated to be worth $750 million by CNBC [1][5]. His background in broadcasting may prove valuable in promoting the Denver NWSL franchise.
NWSL's Expansion Ambitions:
Simultaneous to Denver's expansion, Boston will also join the NWSL in the 2022 season, boosting the league to 16 teams. This ambitious growth is essential in cementing the league's prominent position in the world of professional women's sports in the United States [1][2].
Peyton Manning, known for his achievements in American football, might use his media connections and broadcasting experience from Omaha Productions to promote the Denver NWSL expansion team, as he has demonstrated a hand in media ventures worth an estimated $750 million. This football-focused expertise could aid the Denver NWSL franchise, as the league gears up for the introduction of two new teams in 2022, including Denver's, striving to establish a strong presence in the world of women's professional sports in the United States.
