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BTS’ SUGA is expanding his horizons once again, this time beyond music and into professional sports. According to a July 4 report, he’s teaming up with Korean baseball legend Park Chan Ho to invest in the Major League Baseball team, The Athletics. The team, currently based in Oakland, is in the middle of a major move to Las Vegas, and SUGA is now part of the group backing this next chapter.
This isn’t SUGA’s first connection to the sports world. In April 2023, he was officially named an ambassador for the NBA, reflecting his deep love for basketball. But his latest move into baseball ownership comes as a surprise, showing that his passion for sports goes far beyond fandom — he’s now taking on an active, behind-the-scenes role in shaping a historic sports franchise.
The Athletics, one of the oldest teams in the MLB, has struggled in recent years both on the field and in maintaining its fan base. After decades in Oakland, the team is building a new stadium in Las Vegas, aiming to turn things around by 2028. The project is massive, with a \$1.75 billion price tag, and the team is seeking outside investment to help fund it.
That’s where Team 61 comes in — a sports management agency founded by Park Chan Ho, who made history as the first South Korean to play in Major League Baseball. Team 61 is leading a \$70 million investment into the Athletics’ stadium plans by setting up a private equity fund. This fund is expected to purchase about 2–3% of the newly issued shares in the team.
SUGA is one of the star investors involved in this effort. He joins a powerful group that includes Lee Man Deuk, president of energy company Samchully Co., Ltd., and Mike Joo, COO of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s investment division. This marks a rare crossover between global entertainment and American sports, and places SUGA among a very small group of Korean artists with financial ownership in a U.S. sports franchise.
The move could signal big changes for The Athletics. With the team trying to rebuild its brand and reputation, having major names like SUGA and Park backing the effort could bring new energy and wider international attention. Park Chan Ho’s presence opens up possibilities for Korean player development and MLB scouting. Meanwhile, SUGA’s involvement could lead to more global fan engagement, special promotions, and even collaborations that blend music and sports.
So far, neither SUGA nor Park has made an official public comment on the investment. But fans are already wondering what this could lead to. Will we see BTS or K-pop-themed events at games? Could there be crossover content that blends SUGA’s artistic style with baseball culture? While nothing’s confirmed yet, one thing’s clear — SUGA isn’t afraid to try something new, and this latest move shows he’s thinking far beyond music charts.
For The Athletics, this could be the start of a new era. And for SUGA, it’s one more step in a career that continues to evolve in unexpected and exciting ways.