ATLANTA (Diya TV) — Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban has joined an investment group that purchased a minority stake in the Athletics as the Major League Baseball club continues its planned move to Las Vegas.
The investment comes through Harbinger Sports Partners, a private equity firm that focuses on sports franchises. The group announced the deal on Thursday but did not reveal the size of its ownership stake or the financial terms. The Athletics also did not disclose the team’s valuation as part of the agreement.
Cuban remains a minority owner of the Mavericks and serves as general partner and president of Harbinger Sports Partners. Atlanta Falcons minority owner Rashaun Williams founded the firm and serves as its chief investment officer. Former Major League Baseball chief financial officer Jonathan Mariner is managing partner, while Steve Cannon, vice chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment, leads the company as chief executive officer.
The investment marks Harbinger Sports Partners’ first deal since the firm launched in May 2025. At that time, the company announced plans to raise $750 million for its first investment fund. It also said it planned to acquire minority stakes in North American sports franchises. The firm expects to complete between 10 and 12 investments through its first fund.
The Athletics have reportedly explored selling a minority stake since 2024. According to Forbes, the franchise has an estimated value of $2 billion, ranking 18th among Major League Baseball’s 30 teams. However, neither Harbinger nor the Athletics confirmed the club’s valuation in Thursday’s announcement.
Cuban expressed confidence in the investment and praised the leadership behind the deal.
“We are minority investors looking to make our investors a lot of money,” Cuban said.
He also credited Williams and Mariner for leading the transaction. In addition, he said the group believes in the Athletics’ management and ownership as the franchise prepares for its next chapter.
The Athletics welcomed Harbinger Sports Partners as a new investor. The club said the group’s experience in sports, media and entertainment will help support its long-term goals in Las Vegas.
“We are very pleased to welcome Harbinger Sports Partners as an investor in the Athletics,” the team said in a statement. “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 plan to relocate permanently to Las Vegas in 2028. Before then, the team will play three seasons at a Triple-A stadium in West Sacramento, California. The club is currently in the second year of that temporary arrangement.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the Athletics’ future home on the Las Vegas Strip. Majority owner John Fisher is overseeing the project, which includes a domed stadium with about 33,000 seats. The estimated cost has increased from earlier projections and now stands at roughly $2 billion.
Williams said the investment does not provide financial support for the stadium project. Instead, he explained that funding for the development had already been secured.
“Fisher definitely doesn’t need our money. We’re not coming to bail anyone out by any means,” Williams said.
He also said Harbinger completed extensive research before investing in the Athletics. According to Williams, the firm believes Las Vegas has strong demand for Major League Baseball. He added that the ownership group and MLB studied the market carefully before moving forward.
Williams also addressed concerns about possible labour disruptions in professional baseball. He said the stadium is not expected to open until 2028, giving the franchise time to navigate any future challenges.
“Even if there’s a player strike or a lockout, this ballpark isn’t even done until 2028,” Williams said. “The uninformed may see this as a risk. Insiders may see it as an opportunity.”
