Amid push for NBA, Kraken ownership adds Melinda French Gates

The Seattle Kraken are adding Melinda French Gates as a minority investor, pending NHL approval, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported Monday morning.

Step made toward Seattle Sonics NBA expansion bid, per report

The news comes at a time when One Roof Sports and Entertainment, which is led by Kraken majority owner Samantha Holloway and is the umbrella brand for the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, is preparing to bid for a potential NBA expansion franchise to bring a Seattle Sonics team back to the city.

Per Kaplan’s article, French Gates is “drawn not only to continuing her investment in Seattle, but also to Holloway’s vision for what the Kraken could become.”

“I see this incredible opportunity that sports plays for a community to bring people together,” French Gates said in the ESPN article. “When I met Samantha and learned about her leadership – her background in tech and the innovative way she approaches challenges – it felt like a natural fit for me.”

The investment would be French Gates’ first ownership stake in a major pro sports team.

The ESPN article also had an update from Holloway on her pursuit of an NBA expansion franchise.

“The City of Seattle certainly could use an NBA team, and the fans here are ready for it,” Holloway said. “If that happens, they will all buy their Kraken friends beers because it wouldn’t happen without them. So we are hopeful, we are working on it, and stay tuned.”

The NBA Board of Governors approved a vote in March to explore adding potential expansion teams specifically in Seattle and Las Vegas. One Roof appears to be the lone serious player for a Seattle franchise after becoming the majority stakeholder in Climate Pledge Arena, which was built to attract both the NHL and NBA to the city.

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