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Mr. E. Stanley Kroenke was officially introduced as the owner of the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and Pepsi Center on July 6, 2000.
One of the top owners in professional sports, his commitment to excellence has been obvious inside and outside of the Pepsi Center since his arrival. Substantial amounts have been invested in improvements and additional attractions to enhance the entertainment experience for every visitor to the property.
His management team, Kroenke Sports Enterprises, acquired the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League in 2002, and is instrumental in hosting the Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver all contributing to the broad sporting tastes of Rocky Mountain sports fans. In addition, he has been instrumental in bringing the sports’ world’s biggest stars to Denver. This past year, the Pepsi Center was awarded both the 2005 NBA All-Star Game and the 2004 National Lacrosse League All-Star Game. The Pepsi Center played host to the 2001 NHL All-Star Game as well.
The Blue Sky Grill on the ground floor of the Pepsi Center gives patrons and the general public alike an opportunity to enjoy quality fare in a mountain lodge setting. It immediately became the destination before and after every event in the arena.
Mr. Kroenke also guided the Universal Lending Pavilion project, a 5,500 seat outdoor amphitheatre on the Pepsi Center grounds that hosts over 40 events in the summer months, and purchased the Paramount Theater, a historic landmark in nearby downtown. This theatre will be restored to its original glory. These venues allow the public to have access to numerous musical and cultural events in beautiful, intimate settings.
A sizable office project opened in the summer of 2003 above the Ridgeline Restaurant, accommodating the support staffs of the teams and the arena.
Mr. Kroenke’s enthusiasm and vision ensure that the Pepsi Center will continue to be the top entertainment destination in the Rocky Mountains for generations to come.
Kroenke Sports Enterprises’ priority is the Colorado community. Behind Mr. Kroenke’s leadership, over $11 million in contributions have been made to Colorado charities through the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche Community Funds, funds of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, since his arrival in 2000. Since 1993, the funds have contributed over $28 million.
Kroenke Sports Enterprises’ dedication to success was evidenced in June 2001 when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup Championship.
Historically no stranger to championships, Mr. Kroenke is also Vice-Chairman and co-owner of the 2000 Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams. A native Missourian, his emergence as an owner of the Rams was critical in the effort to return professional football to St. Louis in 1995.
Mr. Kroenke is Chairman and Owner of the Kroenke Group, a private real estate investment and development company with properties located throughout the United States and Canada, including the Rocky Mountain region. During the past two decades, he has built a reputation as one of the nation’s leading developers of shopping centers and apartment buildings.
Mr. Kroenke’s current and former board and trustee memberships include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Central Bank Holding Company, Boone County National Bank, Community Investments Partnership of St. Louis, the College of the Ozarks, and the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame. He is a member of St. Louis’s Civic Progress, which provides support and leadership for various community improvements that promote economic development, education and quality of life.
Mr. Kroenke holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri. Both he and his wife, Ann, are active supporters of Mizzou athletic programs. | 