On Monday, the Athletics brought a new power player into the fold: a South Korea-led investment group that is pumping fresh cash into the franchise as it works toward a Strip ballpark and a planned 2028 opening in Las Vegas. The consortium, built around former major league pitcher Chan Ho Park, has already put in $55 million and has committed $70 million in total, with the final $15 million still awaiting approval from Major League Baseball. Park is set to serve as a senior advisor to owner John Fisher, giving the A’s a direct connection to Korean baseball as the team relocates.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the group, known as Team61, has invested $55 million to date, with another $15 million contingent on league sign-off. The outlet reported that the cash will be folded into financing for the under-construction Strip ballpark and that the consortium includes business and entertainment figures with ties to Korea. The Review-Journal also noted that high-profile figures linked to the fund have already shown public support for the A’s at recent Las Vegas events.
Seoul coverage from ChosunBiz said Park’s senior advisory role will focus on player development and Asia strategy, calling the move “an investment in the future of Korean baseball beyond a simple equity relationship.” Park, the first Korea-born player in MLB, has framed the deal as a bridge for future Korean players and fans into the major leagues.
Pop Power And A New Pipeline
The deal also arrives with some pop-star wattage. The Review-Journal reported that BTS member SUGA pulled on an A’s jersey during the group’s May 28 stop at Allegiant Stadium, a made-for-social-media moment the club and its new backers can use as they court fans across Asia. ChosunBiz noted that Korea recently surpassed 10 million professional baseball spectators for two consecutive years and had already drawn roughly 7.6 million fans through the first half of 2026, numbers the A’s hope to tap as they expand their international reach.
Where The Money Is Headed
Team61’s capital is expected to help cover construction and finishing costs for the A’s planned domed ballpark on the former Tropicana site, a project now pegged at roughly $2 billion as the club pushes toward a 2028 opening. The Nevada Independent reported that Fisher has said costs have climbed near the $2 billion mark, and the team is continuing foundation and site work while finalizing the stadium’s guaranteed maximum price.
What Comes Next For The A’s Vegas Gamble
The immediate items to watch are MLB’s sign-off on the remaining $15 million and whether the A’s announce additional minority partners before construction accelerates. Recent coverage of a Mark Cuban-led minority stake underscored a broader pattern of outside investors buying modest shares as the A’s assemble the financing needed for the Strip ballpark.
For Las Vegas, the Team61 news is another signal that the city’s major league moment is shifting from symbolism to business. Cultural ties and new money are stacking up behind a 2028 debut, but league approvals and final budgets will determine how quickly that vision becomes a local reality. Expect more investor announcements and construction updates as the A’s close out financing and move toward opening day on the Strip.
