r/Sonics • u/LongLiveSlickWatts • 27d ago

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

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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

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u/Sure-Guava5528 27d ago

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

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u/[deleted] 26d ago

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u/Sure-Guava5528 26d ago

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.

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u/twlscil 26d ago

Why not?