After bringing the city of Milwaukee it’s first championship since 1971, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo will hope to do the same for the Milwaukee Brewers as a part-owner.
The “Greek Freak” becomes the franchise’s first new investor in 17 years.
The Bucks superstar is purchasing a partial stake in Milwaukee’s MLB team. It’s a move that follows steps taken by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Both league MVPs bought a share of MLB teams under similar circumstances.
Months after Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, he bought a partial stake in the Kansas City Royals.
Like Mahomes, Antetokounmpo becames a becomes a part-owner of the MLB team in his city right after breaking a historic drought to bring a title back to the fan base.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the Crew!
The two-time MVP is officially part of the Milwaukee Brewers ownership team. Thank you, Giannis, for your commitment to our team and Milwaukee!
@Giannis_An34 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/3xRk2yNHrp— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 20, 2021
He signed a $228 million supermax extension in December, after some contentious months in the “Cream City” where they didn’t know if he’d agree to stay following back-to-back playoff exits without making the Finals, despite boasting the league’s best record in both seasons. The deal made him one of the highest-paid players in league history.
The Brewers’ estimated team value is $1.22 billion, the seventh-lowest mark in MLB.
But the figure marked a 2% value increase from the previous season, despite MLB losing significant revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the “Brew Crew” firmly in the hunt for a World Series title, there’s a chance that Antetokounmpo’s investment pays off very quickly.
Considering the Bucks won a championship after Aaron Rodgers bought a share in the franchise, this could be the start of a trend for Milwaukee’s top athletes.
Calling it a “dream come true” for a kid who grew up poor in Athens and came from immigrant parents, Antetokounmpo said he wanted to be sure to invest back into the community that invested so much in him.
“Milwaukee has made me who I am today. Without Milwaukee giving me the opportunity, I wouldn’t be who I am today. They made a me a better person, a better man,” the NBA Finals star said.
Having megastars like Giannis and Mahomes associate themselves with small-market teams can only help Milwaukee shed its reputation as a low-energy, small market incapable of attracting the biggest superstars in the game.
