LAS VEGAS – BTS rapper Suga and former Major League Baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park are joining a group of investors backing the Athletics at a $2 billon valuation in their bid to relocate to Las Vegas, according to multiple reports.
Suga (Min Yoon-gi), a member of the internationally acclaimed K-pop group BTS, and Park, the first South Korean to play in MLB, are reportedly investing in a private equity fund led by Park’s firm, Team61. The fund, valued at approximately $70 million, plans to acquire 2–3 percent of newly issued Athletics shares to support the team’s new stadium project in Las Vegas.
The Athletics, founded in 1901 and winners of nine World Series titles, are in the midst of a historic franchise relocation. Owner John Fisher has proposed constructing a $1.75 billion domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, with a target opening date in 2028. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held last week.
Joining Suga and Park in the investment fund are other notable figures including Lee Man-deuk of Samchully Co. and Mike Joo, COO of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s investment banking division.
Suga, who recently completed his mandatory military service and is known for his philanthropic efforts—including a ₩5 billion (approximately $3.6 million) donation to Severance Hospital in Seoul—is expected to bring cultural cachet and global branding power to the A’s as they prepare for their Las Vegas debut.
Park, who pitched for 17 seasons in MLB with a career total of 124 wins and 1,715 strikeouts, adds significant baseball pedigree. His involvement could also help bridge Korean baseball development with the A’s future talent pipeline.
The deal marks a unique cross-section of international sports and entertainment influence, signaling the Athletics’ ambition to broaden their appeal as they enter a new era in Las Vegas.