Park Chan-ho Makes MLB History as First Korean Team Investor with $70 Million Athletics Deal

Park Chan-ho, a trailblazer as the first Korean Major League Baseball player, has once again made history by becoming the first Korean investor in an MLB team. He announced on March 27th that his investment consortium, 'Team 61,' has committed approximately $70 million (102 billion Korean won) to the Oakland Athletics.

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I've always dreamed of becoming a Major League Baseball owner. I had actually attempted to invest in other clubs before. But it was difficult to get a share in existing clubs with solid fan bases. When the Athletics announced their relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas, I asked for a meeting with owner John Fisher through an acquaintance.

Beyond the financial investment, Park will join the Athletics as a senior advisor to owner John Fisher. In this role, he will offer counsel on player development and the team's strategic approach to the Asian market. Park expressed his vision of seeing Korean players don Athletics uniforms and compete in the new Las Vegas ballpark, a dream he has nurtured since his playing days.

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My role now is to pave the way for more players to achieve their dreams, just as I achieved mine as a player. This Athletics project is not just a financial partnership; it's a foundation for creating global opportunities for various industries and Korean companies, linked to the new stadium.

Park recounted how his dream of owning an MLB team led him to pursue this partnership. He explained that securing a stake in established clubs with strong fan bases proved difficult. However, the Athletics' relocation announcement from Oakland to Las Vegas presented an opportunity. A meeting initially scheduled for 30 minutes with owner John Fisher extended to nearly two hours as Park passionately articulated his vision.

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Park Chan-ho is a barrier-breaker. How could I miss the opportunity to work with this person?...

He emphasized that his journey in baseball was built on strong relationships and support, drawing parallels to his own MLB debut. Park stated his desire to create a bridge connecting Korean players, fans, and businesses with Major League Baseball, fostering future opportunities and strengthening ties between South Korea and the United States. Hollywood actor Ken Jeong, also a member of Team 61, praised Park as a barrier-breaker and expressed excitement about collaborating on this new venture.

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We've been having conversations about this vision for at least two years. I thought it was a fantastic idea to promote our club's brand and baseball in Korea through Team 61, and today we are introducing a vision to connect with baseball fans worldwide, beyond cities and countries. This is a dream come true for me as well.