The final sale price of the Denver Broncos is expected to set a new record for U.S. sports franchises by a wide margin. Bids to purchase the NFL team are due by late Monday afternoon, the highest of which is rumored to be $4.5 billion.

The winning bid for the Broncos will go to Rob Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, according to Forbes. The report states that Walton will buy the Broncos for $4.5 billion, nearly doubling the sale price of the last NFL team that was sold.

David Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers for an NFL-record $2.275 billion in 2018. Less than two years ago, Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets for $2.4 billion, setting the record for a standalone purchase of an American sports team.

Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Joe Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center for a combined $3.3 billion in 2019. The Nets were valued at around $2.35 billion in the sale.

Four groups are expected to enter bids in the Broncos’ sale. Other reports indicate that there’s still a chance for a group to exceed Walton’s price.

The Broncos’ sale will shatter the previous record and exceed Denver’s previous valuation. Prior to the 2021 season, Forbes estimated the Broncos to have a value of $3.75 billion, which ranked 10th among all NFL teams.

The Broncos have not made the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 in February 2016. Denver is considered to have a strong shot to reach the playoffs after trading for quarterback Russell Wilson.

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos poses with his family (L-R), Sienna, Future, Win and Ciara following an introductory press conference at UCHealth Training Center on March 16, 2022 in Englewood, Colorado. Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
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