Peyton Manning part-NBA owner

big in vegas

MuscleChemistry Registered Member
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning isn't allowed to own a piece of a football team per NFL rules, but that doesn't mean he can't own a piece of another team in another sport.

Sources have confirmed to ESPN.com that Manning is part of the proposed ownership group led by Robert Pera, who agreed to buy the Memphis Grizzlies from Michael Heisley for about $350 million this summer.

The news of the involvement of Manning, who of course played his college ball in the state at Tennessee, was first reported by Chris Vernon of ESPN Radio Memphis. The ownership stake is actually in Manning's wife Ashley's name, but one source confirms that Peyton Manning is involved. The Manning's stake in the team and how much they paid for it is not yet known.

Through last week, Manning has earned more than $178 million on the field and tens of millions of dollars more off it as the most popular endorser in the NFL.

Since Pera agreed to the deal, shares of his company Ubiquiti Networks has been hard hit. On a single day in August, Pera lost $365 million on paper when the company's stock plummeted. Shares have since rebounded modestly.

In recent months, Pera has added local partners, including AutoZone founder J.R. "Pitt" Hyde and financier Staley Cates, who were minority owners under Heisley. In September, Pera scored pop star and actor Justin Timberlake on the ownership roster. Sources also confirmed on Thursday that former NBA player Penny Hardaway has joined the group.

A source with knowledge of the sale told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the transfer of ownership from Heisley to Pera and his high-profile partners remains on course to be approved by the start of the regular season later this month. The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to have its meeting in New York City on Oct. 24-25.
 
Back
Top