Durham, N.C. — Directorship groups in the American Association include a growing number of connections to Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer.
League commissioner Miles Wolff commented, “The fact that so many of our owners have strong ties to major league organizations shows the strength of the American Association. These owners recognize the value of ownership in our league. But it is not only those owners with ties to big-league organizations that give us strength, as all of our owners are successful businessmen in their respective fields.”
Listed below are members of American Association ownership groups with ties to big league teams:
–听St. Paul Saints听chairman Marv Goldklang has been a limited partner of the New York Yankees since 1979, while club president听Mike Veeck,听son of former Major League Baseball owner Bill Veeck,听听previously worked with the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins.
– The听Cleburne Railroaders听补苍诲听Texas AirHogs听have two major league co-owners.听Donnie Nelson,听the president and general manager of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and Baseball Hall of Fame catcher听Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez听are two of the principal investors in those teams.
–听Wichita Wingnuts听辞飞苍别谤听Nate Robertson听had a nine-year big-league career as a pitcher with Florida, Detroit and Philadelphia, making 187 starts and appearing in the 2006 World Series with the Tigers.
–听Sioux Falls Canaries听颁贰翱听Tom Garrity听has held executive positions in both Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, working with the Houston Astros, Minnesota Wild, and Phoenix Coyotes.
– The league’s new听Rosemont听club is听owned by听Steven Gluckstern听补苍诲听Shawn Hunter.听The club听will begin play in May 2018 in a new $55-million, 6,300-seat stadium.听Gluckstern was previously a co-owner of the National Hockey League鈥檚 New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes. Hunter was president of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes, as well as Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA.
