Introduction to the Seattle Baseball Team
The Seattle baseball team, formally known as the Seattle Mariners, is an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the Major League Baseball in 1977 as an expansion team, and since then has gone through several ownership changes over the years.
Who currently owns the Seattle Baseball Team?
The current owners of the Seattle Mariners are the First Avenue Entertainment LLLP. This group consists of John Stanton, Chris Larson, and other members of the investment group that bought the team for $1.4 billion in 2016.
History of the Seattle Baseball Team’s Ownership
The Seattle Mariners have had a number of owners throughout their history. The team was founded in 1977 and was originally owned by the Seattle Pilots, who were owned by Bud Selig. In 1970, the team was sold to the American League and became the Seattle Mariners.
The team was then purchased in 1981 by the team’s current majority owners, John Stanton, Chris Larson, and a group of investors. The team has since been owned by the First Avenue Entertainment LLLP.
The Previous Owners of the Seattle Baseball Team
The Seattle Mariners have had several owners over the years. The original owners of the team were the Seattle Pilots, who were owned by Bud Selig. The team then changed hands in 1970 when it was purchased by the American League and became the Seattle Mariners.
After that, the team was purchased by a group of investors in 1981, and then again in 1989 by Jeff Smulyan. Jeff Smulyan eventually sold the team to Hiroshi Yamauchi in 1992. Yamauchi was the majority owner of the team until he sold it to the current majority owners in 2016.
John Stanton and Chris Larson, Majority Owners of the Seattle Baseball Team
John Stanton and Chris Larson are the majority owners of the Seattle Mariners. John Stanton is a former technology executive, while Chris Larson is a Seattle-area businessman.
The duo purchased the team in 2016 for $1.4 billion, which was the highest price ever paid for an MLB team. The purchase was financed by a group of investors, including John Stanton, Chris Larson, and other members of the investment group.
The Team’s Other Owners
In addition to John Stanton and Chris Larson, the Seattle Mariners have a number of minority owners. These include:
- Hiroshi Yamauchi: Yamauchi was the majority owner of the team from 1992 to 2016, when he sold the team to John Stanton and Chris Larson.
- Jeff Smulyan: Smulyan purchased the team in 1989 and held the majority ownership until 1992, when he sold it to Hiroshi Yamauchi.
- Edward John Zander: Zander was a minority owner of the team from 1989 to 1992. He is also a former chairman of the board of Motorola.
- Norman J. Henderson: Henderson was a minority owner of the team from 1977 to 1989. He was also a former president of the Seattle Pilots.
The Financial Situation of the Seattle Baseball Team
The Seattle Mariners are currently worth an estimated $1.6 billion, making them the 16th most valuable team in Major League Baseball. The team is currently in the middle of the pack when it comes to their financial situation, as they have seen an increase in their value since John Stanton and Chris Larson bought the team in 2016.
The Seattle Mariners have also seen an increase in their revenues over the past few years. The team’s total revenue for the 2017 season was $312 million, up from $299 million in 2016. The team is also estimated to have a net income of $25 million for the 2017 season.
The Future of the Seattle Baseball Team
The Seattle Mariners have had a tumultuous history, but they have seen some recent success on the field. The team is currently in the midst of a rebuild, and they have a promising young core of players that could potentially lead them to the playoffs in the near future.
John Stanton and Chris Larson have also invested heavily in the team over the past few years. They have made a number of improvements to the team’s facilities, including the construction of a new ballpark in Seattle. The team is also investing in their scouting and development departments, as well as in the team’s marketing efforts.
Conclusion
The Seattle Mariners have gone through several ownership changes over the years, but the current majority owners are John Stanton and Chris Larson. The duo purchased the team in 2016 for $1.4 billion, and have since made significant investments in the team’s facilities, scouting department, and marketing efforts.
The team is currently worth an estimated $1.6 billion, and they have seen an increase in their revenues over the past few years. The team is also in the midst of a rebuild, and they have a young core of players that could potentially lead them to the playoffs in the near future.