NHL’s Seattle Kraken Bring In Marshawn Lynch & Macklemore As Minority Investors

It wouldn’t make much sense for an NHL team to add a Grammy-winner and a former NFL running back, would it?

Well, the Seattle Kraken did just that; not to its lineup, though—to its ownership group: The team announced that Macklemore and Marshawn Lynch will be joining the minority investor group.

“I’d say that perhaps we didn’t need just two more investors, but these are investors who uniquely want to help us in the community and are excited about what we’re doing,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said.

Macklemore, also part owner of the MLS’ Seattle Sounders, said his efforts will include a focus on the music community and curating partnerships between the team and young musicians, as well as partnering on a charity golf tournament.

“I think bringing music to Climate Pledge is the big one and helping facilitate with local artists,” he said. “There’s so many small micro venues in areas that people can perform at Climate Pledge outside of just Climate Pledge as an arena itself. I think that the Kraken have been really open and excited about bringing in local talent. So I think that that’s one way. I think the other way is just making sure that we’re exposing all people to the game.”

Beloved by the fans, Lynch played for the Seahawks from 2010-15 and then again in 2019. He also is old hand in sports ownership, as he’s invested in the USL Championship’s Oakland Roots Soccer Club.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of things, but this is something I never would have imagined,” Lynch said in a statement. “As a young hyena I always dreamed of playing on a professional team but owning one is something special. As I look back on some of my accomplishments—I retired before I was 30 and now being an owner of a professional club at the age of 35—I’m going to continue to count my blessings. Being a part of the Seattle Kraken is something big for me and it gives me another chance to get a ring after helping bring the first one to the city.”