Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp will be a co-owner of the Motor City Golf Club when it joins the Florida-based indoor golf league TGL in 2027. Hamp’s son Michael will be the team’s governor as one of the principals in Middle West Partners, which leads the new ownership group. Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton will also have owner’s suite privileges at SoFi Center. And they won’t be alone among NFL affiliates at the highest levels of the tech-infused golf competition.
TGL announced the expansion club Tuesday, saying Detroit will join the six original franchises for the 2027 season. According to a person familiar with the transaction, Motor City paid more than $70 million for a spot in the league, which could see further expansion after its debut season. That’s more than double the entry fee for founding teams. A TGL spokesperson declined to comment on the team’s expansion price. TGL parent company TMRW Sports was valued at nearly $500 million in a 2024 funding round.
Owners tied to the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies were all reportedly spotted at TGL matches in 2025 as big-name sports investors eye the upstart league. Washington Commanders co-owner David Blitzer, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen are among those already invested in teams.
“We really like those team owners that are operators of other sports teams and other professional leagues in their communities,” TMRW Sports founder Mike McCarley said last year.
In recent weeks, expansion speculation has followed news that TGL Holdings filed trademark requests for “Chicago Links Golf Club” and “Texas Golf Club” in addition to “Motor City Golf Club.” A Dallas-based group has reportedly put up $77 million to land a team.
TGL has also considered adding women to its competition—and possibly opening a West Coast playing venue as well. L.A. Golf Club owner Alexis Ohanian said in April that he expects the team to achieve profitability in year two. Proskauer advised TGL on the Detroit expansion.
The Motor City ownership group also includes technology entrepreneur Kal Somani, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League; Ronin Capital Partners, led by Jay Farner, former CEO of Rocket Companies; and sports investment firm RHC Group. A PGA Tour event sponsored by Rocket Mortgage has been held at Detroit Golf Club in Michigan since 2019. Middle West Partners declined to comment on financial terms.
Michael Hamp’s grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr.—himself the grandson of Henry Ford—purchased the Detroit Lions in 1964 for $6 million.
(This story has been updated in the penultimate paragraph with mention of Middle West Partners declining to comment.)
