Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is entering Major League Baseball after his private equity firm purchased a minority stake in the Athletics ahead of the franchise's move to Las Vegas.
Harbinger Sports Partners, a firm where Cuban serves as general partner and president, announced the acquisition Thursday. The financial terms and the exact percentage of the minority stake were not disclosed.
The investment comes as the Athletics seek to raise up to $550 million from outside investors to finance a new $2 billion, 33,000-seat domed ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. The stadium is scheduled to open for the 2028 MLB season.
“We are minority investors looking to make our investors a lot of money,” Cuban said in a statement, highlighting the high growth potential of the Las Vegas sports market.
The Athletics currently play at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California, following their departure from Oakland at the end of the 2024 season.
Cuban has long sought an entry into Major League Baseball ownership. His previous bids to buy the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers ultimately came up short. Cuban recently shifted his sports portfolio, selling his majority stake in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks while retaining a minority share.
With the addition of Cuban's firm, the Athletics secure their highest-profile investor yet as majority owner John Fisher works to solidify the team's future in Nevada.
"We are very pleased to welcome Harbinger Sports Partners as an investor in the Athletics," the team said in a statement. "The experience of their principals across sports, media, and entertainment... makes them a valuable addition to our ownership group."
