Marshawn Lynch might not play on the NFL gridiron anymore, but he’s sure living his best life off of it.
Today it was announced that Lynch, along with rapper Macklemore, joined the ownership group of the Seattle Kraken.
The Kraken, which joined the NHL this season after majority owner David Bonderman paid a $650 million expansion fee, is reportedly worth $875 million.
Terms of Lynch’s investment weren’t disclosed, but according to CNBC.com, sports bankers estimate that these types of deals are “generally for 1% of a team or less.”
For Lynch, the percentage isn’t as important as is the fact that he’s made a personal dream come true.
“This is something I never would have imagined,” said Lynch in a statement. “I always dreamed of playing on a professional team but owning one is something special. As I look back on some of my accomplishments — I retired before I was 30 and now being an owner of a professional club at the age of 35 – I’m gonna continue to count my blessings.”
While the deal was just announced, it turns out that it was in the works for some time.
According to team CEO Tod Leiweke, it first bubbled up last summer but was finalized by the NHL this month.
“For us, we didn’t need additional investors, but the thing that attracted us to these guys was their interest in community activism through this organization, and that’s a big deal,” said Leiweke, who’s also a Kraken investor, in a CNBC interview.
The Kraken said that Lynch would help drive the NHL’s push for diversity and awareness by participating in their “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative.
Hockey’s push for inclusion is something that’s escalated over the last few years.
From Black and BIPOC team owners to Black hockey history making events like the NHL’s first Black on-ice officiating duo and the league’s first Black broadcast team (which was, ironically, the Seattle Krakens’ broadcast team), the sport has taken positive steps forward to become more welcoming to diverse audiences and players.
Lynch is always there for the community, but he will also be paying close attention to the business side of his new team, and that means he’ll be backfield mates with Leiweke.
“He’s intrigued with the idea of what’s it’s like to be an owner and the business side and the financing,” Leiweke said. “And it will be a thrill taking him on that journey.”
Lynch is beloved by Seattle for all that he did during his time with the Seahawks, and now he’s given fans another reason to further embrace him.
