NOTE:
The following is extracted from the 1983 USFL Media
Guide. Supplemental information follows.
A sports enthusiast since his days as a youngster when
he followed the Boston Red Sox, Ron Blanding brings an
essential business and sports knowledge mix to his
franchise, the Denver Gold.
The 56-year old Blanding was born and raised in
Providence, R.I., during which time he participated in
sports and was an avid baseball fan in the heydays of
Jimmy Foxx and, later, Ted Williams.
But it was, and is, in Denver that Blanding has made his
greatest impact. He first was introduced to the
Rocky Mountains in 1944 when he was stationed at Lowry
Air Force Base while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
Following his discharge, Blanding attended the
University of Denver. His first job after college
was as a laborer on a concrete crew and he served his
apprenticeship as a cement finisher. Less than a
year later, Blanding began his own concrete company. |
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RON
BLANDING
Owner and President
Denver Gold |
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Nineteen fifty-five marked the beginning of Blanding's
career in the real estate and housing market.
Blanding successfully became the owner of several
Denver-area land parcels and began constructing
warehouses on the property. Later, Blanding
developed business and industrial parks.
Today, Blanding is able to combine his penchant for
physical fitness along with business acumen. He is
the owner and operator of two highly successful Denver
athletic clubs, which he directs in addition to his
day-by-day responsibilities with the Gold.
An avid runner, Blanding also plays tennis and
racquetball as his schedule permits. He is the
father of five children, three sons and two daughters,
and makes his home in Denver.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Blanding's Denver Gold accomplished in 1983 what no
other USFL franchise did - it showed a profit.
Despite the financial success however, Blanding quickly
saw that the plan set by David Dixon was being derailed
by his fellow owners' excessive spending on player
talent. Citing escalating player salaries,
Blanding sold the Gold after the 1984 season to auto
dealer R. Douglas Spedding. Of all the owners in
the USFL, Blanding is perhaps the only one who saw a
return on his investment, selling the team for a
reported $ 10 million. Today at age 80, Blanding
is still actively involved in real estate throughout the
Denver area. |
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