For the second time in less than a week, the Athletics’ Las Vegas venture added a second high-profile investor.
And this group features investors set to break a barrier with the purchase, including a former major leaguer and a K-pop star.
Chan Ho Park, who pitched for 17 seasons in the majors, is set to become the first Korean-born owner and investor as investment group Team61 announced Sunday night it is investing $70 million in the club, with $55 million committed now and $15 million more to come if Major League Baseball approves the deal.
According to reports, American actors Ken Jeong and Daniel Dae Kim, who was born in South Korea, along with Suga of K-pop group BTS also are also part of the Team61 group.
Part of the deal will also see Park, the first Korean-born player in MLB history and who wore 61 for his entire career, become a senior adviser to A’s owner John Fisher and advise the team’s ownership group on player development and Asia initiatives.
“During my playing career, I introduced Korea to Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball to Korean fans, and I saw firsthand how even a small point of connection can create meaningful change,” Park, 53, said in a statement.
“Korea is now a baseball powerhouse with outstanding fans and a strong player-development system,” he continued. “Through exchanges with Las Vegas, which is opening a new era in Major League Baseball, I hope more opportunities will be created for the next generation of players. We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the Athletics to lift up Korean baseball to the next level.”
Park entered the majors as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994. He was an All-Star with the team in 2001 and went on to compile a 124-98 career record in 476 games (287 starts) with the Dodgers (nine seasons), Texas (four seasons), and San Diego (two seasons), along with a season with the Mets and Phillies. He split time between Pittsburgh and the Yankees in 2010, his final season in the big leagues.
On Thursday, Harbinger Sports Partners announced it was buying a stake in the A’s, though details were not announced. Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban — who still has a minor stake in the NBA franchise — and Atlanta Falcons minority owner Rashaun Williams are among the Harbinger investors.
The A’s are scheduled to begin playing in a $2 billion domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip in 2028. They are currently playing the second of three planned seasons in West Sacramento, Calif., while the stadium is built.
