Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay recently turned down a record offer for the franchise, according to a report.
According to Joel A. Erickson and Nat Newell of the Indianapolis Star, Irsay was recently offered $3.2 billion for the Colts, but turned down the offer. It is unknown who the prospective buyer was.
A team spokesperson told the Star that the Colts are not for sale.
A $3.2 billion sale would have been unprecedented. Not only would it have surpassed the Carolina Panthers’ record $2.3 billion sale price, but it would have been the most expensive sale of any North American sports franchise.
Irsay’s family has owned the Colts franchise since 1982, when they were still based in Baltimore. Irsay himself has been the team’s controlling owner since 1997 despite some significant personal issues in recent years. He has deep roots in the community, and he’s not prepared to give that up.
The offer also underlines just how valuable NFL franchises are — even ones that are currently going through a bit of a bumpy period on the field.
