Highlights
- Chan Ho Park became the first Korean to purchase a stake in a major league club, joining the Athletics' ownership group.
- Park's stake comes through a $70 million private equity fund expected to yield roughly 2-3% ownership, pending MLB approval.
- The Athletics are relocating from Oakland to Las Vegas, with a $1.75 billion stadium targeted to open in 2028.
- BTS member Suga and Korean business figures Yi Man-deuk, Hwang In-seon, and Mike Joo are also part of the consortium.
Former pitcher Chan Ho Park became the first Korean to purchase a stake in a major league club, joining the Athletics' ownership group as the franchise prepares to leave Oakland for Las Vegas in 2028.
Park's entry comes through a $70 million private equity fund that is acquiring approximately 2-3% of the Athletics, according to KED Global. The deal was led by Park's agency, Team 61, and also includes BTS member Suga, along with Korean business figures Yi Man-deuk, Hwang In-seon, and Mike Joo. MLB approval is still pending.
The capital supports the Athletics' relocation and construction of a $1.75 billion stadium in Las Vegas, targeted for a 2028 opening. ESPN described Park's addition as the second significant change to the Athletics' ownership structure in the past week.
For Scottsdale readers tracking the Arizona Diamondbacks' spring training footprint at Salt River Fields, the Athletics' departure from the Bay Area and their growing investor base signals an accelerating consolidation of MLB's western presence in the Nevada market. The Athletics carried the lowest player payroll in MLB at $62 million for the 2024 season and averaged 11,528 spectators per game in Oakland, per KED Global.
MLB approval of the ownership stake is the next milestone to watch.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- espn.com retrieved 27/07/2026 06:17
- kedglobal.com retrieved 27/07/2026 06:17
- respawn.outlookindia.com retrieved 27/07/2026 06:17
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 27/07/2026 06:17. Every claim traces to a source.
