Forbes: Broncos 10th most valuable NFL franchise
Forbes Magazine has just released its annual report on “The Business of Football.”
The Denver Broncos are valued at $1.081 billion, ranking them 10th, up one spot from last year.
But the Forbes reports goes on to spotlight the difficulties the franchise has experienced over the past year.
One of the league’s most stable franchises has been under siege in 2009. After 14 seasons as head coach, Mike Shanahan was fired after the 2008 season. Shanahan was the NFL’s most powerful coach as he doubled as the team’s general manager, but three straight seasons out of the playoffs were too much for owner Pat Bowlen. The Broncos have won only one playoff game since John Elway retired in 1999. New coach Josh McDaniels quickly butted heads with Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler before Cutler was jettisoned to Chicago in a trade. The Broncos have sold out general seating at Invesco Field since it opened in 2001, but has struggled to sell out the luxury suite and club seat inventory.
