Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is expanding his business portfolio by acquiring a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, his hometown Major League Baseball team. The announcement was made by the Guardians on Wednesday, with Kelce expressing his excitement about joining the ownership group.
Kelce's Homecoming
Kelce, a native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, shared his deep connection to the city and the team. "I have so much love for this city," Kelce told ESPN. "I say it all the time: I'm just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic. Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place. Every friend, neighbor, teacher and teammate -- they all made me the man I am today."
He also emphasized his respect for the team's culture. "I've been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to good ownership in my career, and I know the best teams prioritize culture. Everyone is there to play their role, and right now, I'm here to observe and learn and really to support the team and the city when and where I can," he added.
Mahomes' Light-Hearted Trolling
Kelce's celebration was short-lived as his teammate and close friend, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, took to social media to remind him of a less-than-stellar moment. Mahomes shared a video of Kelce throwing out the first pitch at a Guardians game in 2023, which went disastrously. The throw spiked into the ground well before reaching home plate. Mahomes captioned the post, "Congrats! @tkelce," with the video as evidence of Kelce's poor pitching form.
Mahomes himself owns a minority stake in the Kansas City Royals, the Guardians' division rivals, adding a layer of friendly rivalry to the exchange.
Kelce's Growing Sports Portfolio
This is not Kelce's first foray into sports team ownership. In 2023, he and Mahomes jointly purchased minority stakes in the Alpine Formula 1 Team. The Guardians are currently owned by the Dolan family, with investor David Blitzer holding a 25 percent stake and an option to become the controlling owner in 2028. The team is valued at approximately $1.7 billion.
Kelce's investment in the Guardians marks a significant step in his post-football career planning, as he continues to build a diverse business empire while still playing at an elite level for the Chiefs.
