By Chris Mortensen
ESPN
New Jersey rock star Jon Bon Jovi has been in confidential negotiations with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank in which Bon Jovi would purchase 15 percent of the NFL franchise for $150 million, according to league sources.
Blank on Sunday morning acknowledged the talks but downplayed them as "discussions that are unlikely" to produce a partnership with Bon Jovi. He would not elaborate, except to add that he did not think it was newsworthy at this stage.
Blank is among a select group of owners who have been seeking more minority partners to gain an infusion of cash that in Blank's case will also help him realize his plans to build a new outdoor stadium in the Atlanta area.
Bon Jovi was owner of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena League team for five years from 2004-2009.
The two sides have signed a confidentiality agreement not to disclose details of negotiations but a league source pegged the financial talks based on a $1 billion valuation of the Atlanta franchise. Each percentage point would be valued at $10 million to arrive at the proposed $150 million on a 15 percent purchase, another source said.
Chris Mortensen is ESPN's senior NFL analyst.
Living here in Tampa I get to see the Falcons play the Bucs once a year. This past season the Bucs honored their first coach John McKay, who's son Rich McKay is the Falcons VP & he was the GM of the Buccaneers for a long time (including when they won the Super Bowl in 2002). At the end of the game Arthur Blank comes out on the field.... My seats are right there as he came out. If this all comes to fruition I hope Jon continues that tradition, but I bet he's a silent yet visibly good looking partner.
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