Lions Ownership Treads Uncharted Waters With $1.63b Move - Report
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 18: Detroit Lions Principal owner and chairwoman Sheila Ford Hamp prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions on December 18, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 18 Lions at Jets Icon22121811260
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 18: Detroit Lions Principal owner and chairwoman Sheila Ford Hamp prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions on December 18, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 18 Lions at Jets Icon22121811260
The Detroit Lions' principal owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, reportedly just made a big-money purchase during free agency, but not in the NFL. Her latest move has revealed the acquisition of a cricket team.
On Tuesday, March 24, it was reported that Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp was part of a consortium that acquired the Rajasthan Royals. This cricket franchise participates in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is valued at approximately $1.63 billion. Cricket is a sport that shares similarities with its distant cousin, baseball.
Kal Somani, a tech entrepreneur, Rob Walton, who also owns the Denver Broncos, and Sheila Ford Hamp were a part of the consortium that acquired the Rajasthan outfit.
Sheila Ford Hamp will bring her experience to the Rajasthan Royals from an ownership perspective, having been at the heart of the Lions' operations since June 2020.
Under her leadership with Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, the Lions saw two of their most successful campaigns in the National Football League.
In the 2024 season, the Lions went 15-2, winning the NFC North Division and having the best record in the NFC.
This was followed by a rare winning record of 9-8, which still saw the Lions finish bottom of the NFC North. Her latest acquisition wasn't too far off the bottom of the table either.
In the 2025 season, the Rajasthan Royals finished ninth in the IPL table out of 10 teams with only four wins and 10 losses. Notably, the same team did win the inaugural league (their only IPL win).
Now with Sheila Ford Hamp and the new ownership at the helm, will that change the tide for the cricket franchise?
Which other NFL owner was close to buying an IPL franchise?
Sheila Ford Hamp was not the only NFL owner interested in Indian cricket.
From the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Avram Glazer from the Glazer family, was interested in acquiring the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (winner of the 2025 IPL edition) and even made an attempted bid.
The Glazer family is well-versed in sports franchises, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL and Manchester United Football Club in the Premier League in England.
The bid submitted was a non-binding $1.8 billion offer to buy the Bangalore-based team.
However, the bid was not enough, and the Glazer family backed out of the race.
