{"id":698080,"date":"2026-05-27T15:07:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698080\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T15:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:07:08","slug":"chiefs-star-travis-kelce-buys-ownership-stake-in-hometown-cleveland-guardians-source","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698080\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs star Travis Kelce buys ownership stake in hometown Cleveland Guardians: Source"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND \u2014 Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a native of Cleveland Heights and unabashed Cleveland sports diehard, has bought into Cleveland Guardians ownership as a minority investor.<\/p>\n

ESPN first reported the news. The Guardians plan to officially announce Kelce\u2019s involvement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a way that I can always cement myself back into the east side of Cleveland,\u201d Kelce said on this week\u2019s edition of the New Heights podcast<\/a>, which he hosts with his brother, Jason. \u201cIt\u2019s a dream come true for a Cleveland kid. Any Cleveland kid would be through the roof right now and I\u2019m happy to be the honorable one to get to do it for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opportunity came across the desk and I just couldn\u2019t say no. \u2026 These guys gave me the opportunity to show my Cleveland love and plant my roots in Cleveland forever, no matter what. It\u2019s an awesome feeling knowing that a childhood kid who grew up on the east side is now part-owner of his favorite baseball team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelce treasures memories of riding the rapid transit to downtown Cleveland as a kid, buying a game program and keeping score at Progressive Field in the late \u201990s and early 2000s.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, Kelce stood atop the mound at Progressive Field, unbuttoned a No. 87 Guardians jersey to reveal an \u201cI\u2019m From Cleveland\u201d T-shirt, and then spiked a ceremonial first pitch into the grass in front of home plate before the team\u2019s home opener.<\/p>\n

Kelce\u2019s star quarterback Patrick Mahomes \u2014 who joined the ownership group of the Kansas City Royals, the Guardians\u2019 AL Central foe, in 2020 \u2014 congratulated Kelce with a clip of the bounced first pitch on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Congrats! @tkelce<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qlt9I58TJF<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/s2qhkDBQ1b<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Kelce and his fianc\u00e9e, pop star Taylor Swift, attended Game 3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers\u2019 Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks on Saturday night at Rocket Arena, which is next door to Progressive Field, his new office.<\/p>\n

The Kelce brothers reminisced on their podcast about some of their core baseball memories, including Cleveland erasing a 12-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 5, 2001, which tied the largest comeback in league history. Kelce noted the team boasted the longest sellout streak in league history, at 455 games, stretching from 1995 to 2001.<\/p>\n

\u201cBaseball in Cleveland,\u201d Kelce said, \u201cis historically one of our favorite pastimes. It\u2019s such an honor to finally be a part of the organization, knowing how many times I\u2019ve always dreamed about maybe playing for them in the big leagues one day. This will be the closest I ever get, to be a part of this organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

This might not be the only change coming to Guardians ownership in the near future. The Dolan family purchased the franchise for $323 million in November 1999. They are the longest-tenured owners in the history of an organization founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League.<\/p>\n

But in the summer of 2022, Paul Dolan struck an agreement with David Blitzer to become a minority owner with a pathway for him to eventually take over as controlling partner.<\/p>\n

Blitzer\u2019s first option to assume majority control is after the 2027 season, multiple industry sources told The Athletic. Blitzer could also elect to punt the decision until a couple years later.<\/p>\n

\u201cTravis Kelce knows what it takes to win at the highest levels and he\u2019s exemplified that throughout his playing career and in the way he shows up as a community leader and businessman,\u201d Dolan and Blitzer said in a statement Wednesday. \u201cHe cares deeply for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and is committed to supporting our mission of building out a world-class organization that helps uplift the communities we serve. It\u2019s great to welcome Travis home and we know he\u2019ll make a lasting impact here.\u201d<\/p>\n