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Korean Baseball Icon Park Chan Ho and BTS’ SUGA Allegedly Invest in MLB’s Athletics

South Korean baseball icon Park Chan Ho and BTS member SUGA are joining forces to invest in a Major League Baseball team in the United States. According to an exclusive report on July 4 KST, they are backing The Athletics, the team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics, which is moving from California to Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Athletics have been a major part of MLB history since their founding in 1901, boasting nine World Series titles. However, the team has faced rough patches both on and off the field in recent years. After calling Oakland home since 1968, The Athletics are now preparing to relocate as part of a new chapter that includes the construction of a brand-new stadium slated to open by 2028. The project’s cost is estimated at around 1.75 billion USD.

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Late June saw the team kick off the stadium build with a ceremony marking the beginning of construction, and now they’re working to gather the funding needed for this massive venture. This is where Park Chan Ho’s sports management firm, Team 61, steps in. The company plans to invest 70 million USD into The Athletics and their stadium, creating a private equity fund that will then buy about 2 to 3% of the new shares issued by the team.

Alongside Park Chan Ho, the private equity fund includes several notable figures: SUGA of BTS, Lee Man Deuk, president of Samchully Co., Ltd., and Mike Joo, COO of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s investment banking branch, among others.

This collaboration marks a significant moment for both the team and Korean baseball culture. Park Chan Ho, as the first South Korean to play in the MLB, might play an influential role in The Athletics’ future management—perhaps helping bring more Korean talent into the league. Meanwhile, fans and industry insiders alike are curious about what impact SUGA’s involvement will have as a major public figure now tied to an MLB franchise. His participation even sparks talks about possible collaborations blending music, sports, and entertainment.

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As investors in The Athletics’ transformation, both Park Chan Ho and SUGA are set to become important shareholders within a team aiming to revive its presence on the big stage. With Las Vegas as their new home and a state-of-the-art stadium underway, this partnership could be a turning point for baseball and Korean representation in American sports.

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