|
McCombs -- who also owned the San Antonio Spurs
and Denver Nuggets -- bought the Vikings for $250 million in
1998 before selling to the current owners, the Wilf brothers,
for $600 million in 2005.
"The Minnesota Vikings are saddened by the passing of former
team owner Red McCombs," the Vikings said in a statement. "Red
embodied his famous ‘Purple Pride' phrase and remained a staunch
Vikings fan after passing the torch to the Wilf family in 2005.
... We will be forever grateful for Red and Charline's
contributions to the Vikings."
Charline McCombs, Red's wife, died in December 2019.
The Vikings went to two NFC Championship games under McCombs.
McCombs was part of a group of businessmen who moved the ABA's
Dallas Chaparrals to San Antonio in 1973 and named them the
Spurs. McCombs was instrumental in getting the Spurs into the
NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. McCombs sold the
Spurs in 1993 for $75 million.
McCombs bought the Denver Nuggets in 1982 before selling the
franchise in 1985. He divested his stake in the Spurs during
that time before reinvesting in the Spurs afterward.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, "Red McCombs
brought the Spurs to San Antonio and was a driving force in
creating the modern NBA. He was an innovator and savvy
entrepreneur who never shied away from taking risks. We mourn
Red's passing and send our heartfelt condolences to his family
and friends and the Spurs organization."
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
