Joey and Jesse Buss, the sons of the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss, just made a massive play that’s shaking up the sports world. On Wednesday, they announced their investment group, Buss Sports Capital, is officially joining the new San Diego Padres ownership group. This isn’t some small-time sideline gig either. According to multiple reports, Buss Sports Capital is reportedly snatching up about 5% of the club, linking up with the new husband-wife ownership tandem, José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.
From Lakers Royalty to Padres Power Players
Talk about a rollercoaster. Before this Padres deal, Joey and Jesse Buss were deep in the Lakers’ front office, a franchise their father, Dr. Jerry Buss, owned for years. Joey was the alternate governor and vice president of research and development for the Lakers, while Jesse held down roles as assistant general manager and director of scouting. But things shifted fast. Mark Walter, the Dodgers owner, snagged a controlling interest in the Lakers from the Buss family less than a year ago for a jaw-dropping $12.5 billion. That’s a cool $2.5 billion more than Walter even paid! Not long after Walter officially took the reins, Joey and Jesse Buss were relieved of their duties. Out of that exit came Buss Sports Capital, and these guys wasted no time, not only investing in the Padres but also reportedly pursuing ownership stake in NBA Europe.
A New Chapter for the Emerald City’s Neighbor to the South
The Padres sale itself was huge. Feliciano and Jones spearheaded the reported $3.9 billion purchase, a deal that MLB owners unanimously approved back on August 17. That figure alone ranks among the most expensive franchise sales ever in North American sports. Now, with the Buss brothers stepping in, they’re bringing some serious experience. Joey and Jesse Buss are slated to serve on the Padres ownership group’s advisory board. Joey Buss said it himself: “We are honored to join Kwanza and José and have the opportunity to contribute to the future of a team that Jesse and I have loved since we were kids growing up in San Diego.” He added, “Padres fans have built one of the most passionate and loyal communities in all of sports, and we believe there is a tremendous opportunity to deepen that connection in San Diego and around the world.” Jesse Buss echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their experience: “Joey and I had the privilege of learning from our father and then spending nearly two decades building our own careers in professional basketball operations. We saw firsthand what it takes to build a championship organization.”
The Buss brothers are stepping onto the advisory board, ready to bring that “championship organization” experience they just talked about. They’re convinced the Padres are “on the cusp of something special,” and they’re here to “build on the strong foundation already in place.” With new blood, a massive sale, and that kind of vision, you gotta wonder what kind of shake-up is coming next for San Diego. It’s a huge play, and it’s just getting started.
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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