Two members of the Buss family, known for their longtime ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, are buying into an MLB team that’s a heated rival of LA fans: the San Diego Padres. Joey and Jesse Buss are making a 5% stake purchase through their firm, Buss Sports Capital, joining a new ownership group taking control of the Padres for a record $3.9 billion. This is a massive move that has to have Dodger fans scratching their heads.
Why the Buss Family Is Going for the Gold and Brown
The move is definitely surprising given the Buss family’s deep roots with the Lakers and their former alignment with Dodgers owner Mark Walter. But Joey and Jesse aren’t just jumping into a random franchise; they’re going home. The brothers stated they were actually raised as Padres fans, not Dodgers fans, explaining that connection makes this something special. Joey Buss said in a statement that he and Jesse have “loved” the team since they were kids in San Diego. He added, “Sports have always been a part of our family’s story, and great organizations have a unique ability to bring people together and create a lasting sense of community.” You gotta respect that kind of passion, even if it’s for a rival.
Lakers Know-How Coming to Petco Park
This isn’t just a sentimental purchase; the Buss brothers are bringing serious front office experience to the table. They’re slated to be on the new ownership group’s advisory board, ready to apply their knowledge in key areas like player development, payroll management, and roster construction. Joey Buss believes the Padres are “on the cusp of something special,” and he’s ready to “build on the strong foundation already in place.” Jesse Buss echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their nearly two decades in professional basketball operations. He pointed out, “We saw firsthand what it takes to build a championship organization… While every sport is different, we believe the principles behind building sustained success are universal.” That’s a bold statement, but it shows they’re not just throwing money at the team; they’re bringing a championship mindset.
This move means big things for the Padres. With Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano taking control via Clearlake Capital and the Buss brothers bringing their specific insights, the future in San Diego looks poised for a shake-up. Padres fans should be thrilled to see an ownership group not only shelling out record cash but also bringing in proven sports management expertise with a genuine love for the club. What does this mean for the competitive balance in the division? We’ll all be watching to see if that “championship organization” philosophy can translate to the diamond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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