Mark Cuban’s investment group, Harbinger Sports Group, just bought a minority stake in the Athletics. This isn’t just any business deal, either. Announced Thursday, this move is all about the A’s eventual arrival in Las Vegas in 2028, signaling where the smart money sees the future of sports.
Cuban, Falcons Brass, and MLB Insiders: Who’s All In?
So, who exactly is behind this massive play? Well, you know Mark Cuban. Ex-Mavericks owner, he’s the general partner and president of the Atlanta-based Harbinger group. But he’s not alone. Rashaun Williams, an Atlanta Falcons minority owner, is their founder and chief investment officer. Then there’s Steve Cannon, co-founder and CEO, who’s also the vice chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment, overseeing Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Falcons. Jonathan Mariner, a former chief financial officer for Major League Baseball, is a managing partner.
Cuban himself wasn’t shy about the motive, saying straight up, “We are minority investors looking to make our investors a lot of money.” Harbinger, in its first investment, has already raised over $460 million in less than six months, clearly seeing something special. Williams hammered it home, stating, “Las Vegas represents one of the greatest sports investment opportunities of our generation.” He added, “We’re not simply investing in a baseball franchise. We’re investing in a city that has fundamentally changed the economics of professional sports.” That’s a bold claim.
Vegas: The Next Sports Mecca?
Harbinger’s game plan is a “long-term strategy centered on the Las Vegas sports market.” They’re pointing to the incredible success of the NFL’s Raiders, who moved from Oakland in 2020, and the NHL’s Golden Knights, who launched in 2017. Both teams’ valuations have soared, and Harbinger expects the A’s to get a similar boost. Williams is fired up, saying, “The next decade of sports ownership will look very different than the last. We believe Las Vegas will sit at the center of that transformation, and Harbinger intends to be one of the firms helping shape its future.”
Meanwhile, A’s majority owner John Fisher is already building a $2 billion, 33,000-capacity domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s on target to open for the 2028 season, and you can already see work on the upper deck becoming part of the city’s skyline. The A’s are currently playing their second of three planned seasons at a minor league park in West Sacramento. Cannon, who helped develop Mercedes-Benz Stadium, was super impressed with the A’s vision, saying, “The new ballpark will be more than a baseball stadium. It will become a year-round entertainment venue and another landmark destination on the Las Vegas Strip.”
This means a huge group of powerful people just bet big on Las Vegas as the undisputed capital of pro sports. A $2 billion stadium, Mark Cuban’s cash, and a city proven to make sports franchises mint money. Get ready, because when the A’s officially arrive in 2028, Vegas will be an even bigger player on the national sports scene.
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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