Mark Cuban’s Harbinger Sports Group acquired a minority stake in the Athletics on Thursday, as the franchise prepares for its move to Las Vegas in 2028, where majority owner John Fisher is constructing a $2 billion domed stadium on the Strip.
An investment group led by former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has secured a minority stake in the Athletics in anticipation of the franchise’s scheduled relocation to Las Vegas. The announcement from Harbinger Sports Group arrived on Thursday, though the group did not disclose the precise percentage of the team it acquired.
The investment vehicle brings together prominent figures from sports and entertainment. Cuban serves as the general partner and president of the Atlanta-based group, while Atlanta Falcons minority owner Rashaun Williams acts as founder and chief investment officer. Steve Cannon, co-founder and CEO, holds the role of vice chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment, which oversees Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Falcons. Jonathan Mariner, the former chief financial officer for Major League Baseball, rounds out the leadership as managing partner.
Harbinger’s Strategic Bet on the Las Vegas Market
The transaction marks the inaugural investment for Harbinger Sports Group, which has raised more than $460 million in less than six months.
The firm explicitly tied its thesis to the rapid financial growth experienced by other franchises that entered the market in recent years. Pointing to the NFL’s Raiders—who relocated from Oakland in 2020—and the expansion Golden Knights, who launched in 2017, the investment group expects the Athletics to capture a comparable valuation boost upon arrival.
“Las Vegas represents one of the greatest sports investment opportunities of our generation. We’re not simply investing in a baseball franchise. We’re investing in a city that has fundamentally changed the economics of professional sports.”
Rashaun Williams, founder and chief investment officer of Harbinger Sports Group
Stadium Construction and the Path to the 2028 Relocation
While the franchise prepares for its permanent home, the Athletics are playing the second of three planned seasons at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California. Meanwhile, construction on the new venue is visible along the city’s skyline.
Photo: sports.yahoo.com
John Fisher remains the majority owner of the A’s and is overseeing the development of a $2 billion, 33,000-capacity domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. Club officials maintain that the project remains on target to open in time for the 2028 season, with ongoing construction already focusing on the upper deck.
“As someone who helped lead the development of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, I was incredibly impressed with the Athletics’ vision. The new ballpark will be more than a baseball stadium. It will become a year-round entertainment venue and another landmark destination on the Las Vegas Strip.”
Mark Cuban joins group buying stake in A’s ahead of Las Vegas move
Steve Cannon, co-founder and CEO of Harbinger Sports Group
The Athletics welcomed the infusion of capital and executive experience from the new partners as the organization navigates its transition period in West Sacramento and pushes toward the 2028 debut in Nevada.
“We are very pleased to welcome Harbinger Sports Partners as an investor in the Athletics. The experience of their principals across sports, media, and entertainment, combined with their long-term perspective, makes them a valuable addition to our ownership group as we work to build the future of the franchise in Las Vegas.”
The Athletics, official team statement
The team’s new ownership group is now poised to oversee the implementation of long-term plans, leveraging Harbinger’s resources to drive growth and stability for the franchise in its new Nevada home.
