Ed Reed
 
Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The Hoffmann family, led by Naples billionaire David Hoffmann, has agreed in principle to buy the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins from the Fenway Sports Group, according to ESPN and New York Times reports.

The deal is pending approval by the NHL’s Board of Governors, made up of the other 31 team owners. The board is not scheduled to meet again until June. The expected sale price is in the range $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion, according to sources.

Hockey journalist Frank Seravalli was the first to report on Fenway’s agreement to sell.

Fenway Sports Group bought controlling interest of the Penguins in 2021 for $900 million from Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. FSG owns several sports properties, including the Boston Red Sox, which holds spring training in Fort Myers at JetBlue Park, and Fenway Park in Boston.

Who is David Hoffmann?

Hoffmann, 73, is the founder and chairman of the Hoffmann Family of Companies. He was ranked 1,763 on the 2025 Forbes list of richest people with a net worth of $2 billion. He first made the list in 2022.

Headquartered in Naples, the Hoffmann Family of Companies consists of more than 120 brands, with 17,000 employees across 400 locations in 30 countries. The business is run by Hoffmann’s sons, Geoff and Greg, who he named co-chief executives.

Hoffmann and his wife Jerri moved to Naples in 2015. The Missouri natives are well-known philanthropists, contributing their time and money to charitable efforts in Southwest Florida, and elsewhere. Locally, they are involved in such organizations as the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, the Everglades Foundation, and the Naples Players community theater.

What are Hoffmann’s hockey ties?play

Watch: Everblades, Hertz Arena’s Craig Brush announces sale

Everblades, Hertz Arena’s Craig Brush announces the sale of the team and the arena to Naples businessman David Hoffmann.

Greg Hardwig, greg.hardwig@naplesnews.com; 239-263-4767

Hoffmann bought the ECHL Florida Everblades and their home Hertz Arena in August 2019. The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Since Hoffmann’s purchase, the Everblades became one of the ECHL’s best franchises, winning three straight Kelly Cups from 2022-2024. He’s invested millions in arena upgrades, including a videoboard that cost close to $2 million as well as upgraded seats and other amenities for fans.

The Hoffmann’s also own a few golf clubs and a host of small businesses in Naples as well as large chuncks of real estate. On Oct. 3, they purchased Pure Florida, a Naples-based maritime company that offers water-based attractions.