The Athletics’ move to Las Vegas is attracting major star power for the second time in less than a week, with a new group of high-profile investors announcing a significant financial stake in the franchise.
Investment group Team61 revealed Sunday night it is putting $70 million into the club — $55 million upfront, with an additional $15 million contingent on Major League Baseball’s approval of the deal.
Leading the group is Chan Ho Park, the 53-year-old former pitcher who spent 17 seasons in the big leagues and is poised to make history as the first Korean-born owner and investor in MLB. Also part of the Team61 group, according to reports, are American actors Ken Jeong and Daniel Dae Kim — who was born in South Korea — as well as Suga, a member of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS.
Beyond his financial investment, Park will take on the role of senior adviser to A’s owner John Fisher, focusing on player development and initiatives aimed at growing the sport in Asia. Park was also the first Korean-born player ever to appear in MLB, wearing the number 61 throughout his entire career.
“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 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 broke into the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994, earning an All-Star selection with the team in 2001. Over the course of his career, he posted a 124-98 record across 476 games — including 287 starts — with the Dodgers over nine seasons, Texas over four seasons, and San Diego over two seasons. He also had stints with the Mets, Phillies, and split his final big-league season in 2010 between Pittsburgh and the Yankees.
This marks the second major investment announcement for the A’s in less than a week. On Thursday, a group called Harbinger Sports Partners revealed it was acquiring a stake in the franchise, though financial specifics were not disclosed. That group includes former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban — who retains a minor stake in the NBA team — and Atlanta Falcons minority owner Rashaun Williams.
The Athletics are scheduled to begin playing in a new $2 billion domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip in 2028. In the meantime, the team is currently in the second of three planned temporary seasons playing in West Sacramento, California.
