Mark Cuban-Led Investment Group Takes Minority Stake in Athletics Ahead of Vegas Move

An investment consortium called Harbinger Sports Group, which includes former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban, has acquired a minority ownership position in the Oakland Athletics MLB franchise. The team is scheduled to relocate to Las Vegas in time for the 2028 regular season.

“We are very pleased to welcome Harbinger Sports Partners as an investor in the Athletics,” the franchise stated. Cuban, now serving as General Partner and President of Harbinger, noted that the group is taking a minority role and described the move as “looking to make our investors a lot of money.”

Harbinger’s leadership includes Managing Partner Jonathan Mariner, who previously served as MLB Chief Financial Officer, and co-founder and CEO Steve Cannon, who holds the role of Vice Chairman at AMB Sports and Entertainment—the entity behind Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Atlanta Falcons. The Athletics will play their home games at a future Bally’s Corporation resort-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, but will remain based in Sacramento, California, until that venue is completed.

Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavericks in December 2023 to a group that included Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, in a transaction valued at approximately $3.5bn. That deal marked the first time an NBA franchise came under the control of owners with ties to the casino-resort and gambling industry.

Las Vegas is also emerging as a strong candidate for an NBA expansion franchise. Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and a group led by Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo have both expressed interest in submitting bids exceeding $7bn to secure the team.