Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is becoming a minority owner of one of the Cleveland sports franchises he grew up following as a rabid fan in Northeast Ohio.
A Cleveland Heights native and the fiance of music superstar Taylor Swift, Kelce told ESPN he is purchasing a minority stake in the Guardians. The ESPN report, published on Wednesday, May 27, doesn’t include financial terms of Kelce’s investment.
A Guardians spokesperson confirmed Kelce and the team have reached a deal. The Guardians plan to make an announcement on May 27.
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan. “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. It just fueled such a deep appreciation for life and community and service. That mentality of “Cleveland against the world” runs deep.
“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.”
As a kid, Kelce played baseball and cheered for Cleveland’s popular MLB teams of the 1990s.
“I just had so many countless memories of screaming out my back door during those playoff runs and all the big-time home run moments,” Kelce said in 2023, when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ home opener at Progressive Field.
Kelce, 36, was raised as a Browns and Cavaliers fan, too.
Although he has tormented the Browns as a future Pro Football Hall of Fame player, Kelce still supports the Cavs. He and Swift attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 23 before the Cavs were swept by the New York Knicks two days later.
It’s not unusual for professional athletes to become minority investors in teams. For example, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett purchased a minority stake in the Cavs in 2023.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Travis Kelce buys minority ownership stake in Cleveland Guardians
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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