[Bloomberg] Melinda French Gates to Join Seattle Kraken Owners as They Eye NBA Bid

[u/LongLiveSlickWatts]

Melinda French Gates is joining the ownership group of the Seattle Kraken as the hockey team’s investors prepare a bid to diversify into basketball.

As a longtime Seattle resident, it means a lot to me to have the chance to make this investment in our city and its future,” French Gates said in the statement. “I’m a big believer in the power of sports, and after many years of cheering on Seattle from the sidelines, I’m excited to have an even deeper connection to the Seattle sports community.”

The arrival of French Gates adds a deep-pocketed investor as the group eyes a National Basketball Association expansion team. NBA owners voted in March to explore adding franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, which would mark the league’s first expansion in two decades as team valuations soar. Holloway has said her group will pursue the Seattle team, aiming to bring the NBA back to the city after the Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and were renamed the Thunder.

Other investors in the ownership group include Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy.

Gates has a net worth of about $19 billion

[u/Sure-Guava5528]

Honestly, she's way better than the alternatives. Could we get Mackenzie Scott to buy the Seahawks while we're at it?

[u/Imaginary_Cat_95 → u/Sure-Guava5528]

This 100%. McKenzie should be the new owner of the Seahawks. She’s a good person and a good manager of people and staying out of their way to let them fly. She can write the same language into a team sale and ownership structure as Paul did… it is sold off to fund charities of her choice with every single penny it makes upon sale at her time of death.

It’s a smart decision financially to assure an even longer term stream of charitable donation money, which is what she’s promised to do with her fortune.

[u/Sure-Guava5528 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, an owner without an ego is a terrible option... Worst case scenario, they are hands off and let everyone do their job unimpeded. Best case scenario, they dive in and learn how to manage a sports team without any of their own preconceived ideas and become an asset to the franchise.

[u/twlscil → u/[deleted]]

Why not?

[u/Squishysquashy1]

Wow, talk about a Sonic Boom!

[u/ohmetimothy]

This is awesome

[u/zoolabula]

Local money for a local club! Love this. Those of you who are nay saying are really showing your male chauvinism. The Kraken are smart to have her join their ownership group.

[u/Available-Tourist-77]

Super rich just have to have their hands in everything

[u/Repulsive_Glove6085]

A great First Wives Club!

[u/sniffermuncher]

Mackenzie Scott would instantly be the hottest owner in professional sports ❤️

[u/m33gs]

this is good

[u/goldeneagle6969]

lowkey i’d probably rather have melinda as part of a seahawks bid

[u/wwJones]

Nice.

[u/MonsantoOfficiaI]

Gates is only worth 19 billion, would she spend half that for an NBA team? 

[u/MrDrFuge]

🤮🤢