00:00According to Jeff Passon, ESPN, Travis Kelsey is buying a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians.
00:10Says, quote, I have so much love for the city, I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland.
00:15And it's more on, he put more on ESPN.com.
00:20Lucky enough to have a front row seat to good ownership in my career.
00:23And I know the best teams prioritize culture.
00:25Everyone is there to play their role.
00:27And right now, I'm here to observe and learn and to really support, and really to support the team in
00:32the city when and where I can.
00:35Kelsey's 36, latest active professional athlete to acquire equity stake in the MLB team.
00:39LeBron actually has a stake in the Red Sox.
00:42Giannis with the Brewers.
00:44Cade Cunningham with the Rangers.
00:45I did not know that as well.
00:46And Patrick Mahomes obviously has a stake in the Kansas City Royals.
00:50Travis Kelsey, minority partner of the Cleveland Guardians.
00:53Thoughts?
00:54Well, what?
00:55Because my mind automatically went to a pretty crazy place right there.
01:00Oh, what was that?
01:01Well, I immediately Googled how much did Taylor Swift make on the Aris tour.
01:06Which was, according to AI on Google, which is never wrong.
01:10It said it brought in $2.07 billion.
01:15So that, to me, then turned back around, and it said she personally cleared over $500 million.
01:23And so then, of course, my brain, with how it works, goes, all right, on her next tour, how much
01:28could that make for her?
01:29Now, there's always going to be a law of diminishing return, so you've got to wait a while before you
01:33go on your next tour.
01:34You can't just keep going and going and going and going and going.
01:37If she waits a while and say, like, she's, like, 2030, has a new album, going on tour.
01:43I don't know much about Taylor Swift, guys, so carry me through this.
01:47Any women out there, any guys who like Taylor Swift, I know there's a basketball writer who loves Taylor Swift.
01:51He won't talk to me, though, so he ain't going to call in.
01:54But anyone with daughters, anybody can help me with this.
01:57I thought it was pretty sane to think of, okay, the year's 2030.
02:00If she's making $500 million on another tour, how much can she break off for Guardians payroll?
02:06Would that mean that she could be or he, them as a married couple?
02:10Because, you know, what's ours is ours.
02:13Does that mean that they could take a bigger stake in then, by that time, David Blitzer's baseball team?
02:18Could they do something like that?
02:19Could they add to the payroll of the Cleveland Guardians as well?
02:22I just thought this was, like, an Usher thing, like, ah, buy 1% of the team, $16 million, what's
02:28that?
02:28Anthony, it more than likely is, can I just dare to dream for a moment?
02:30Am I allowed to?
02:31Yeah, you can, sure.
02:32Well, you just dump on everything, aren't you?
02:34Just Eeyore.
02:35But wait, you're pushing the Blitzers out already?
02:37No, I'm not pushing the Blitzers out.
02:38I'm saying is, if they own a 1% stake, all right, well, what if I throw $100 million into
02:43payroll this year?
02:44What percent stake can I get then?
02:46Like, could it be called the Closers Tour, and then it pays for the top closer in the,
02:51in the league?
02:53Well, Kate Smith's not doing bad.
02:55It was a little bit of a rough start.
02:56You said 2030, Kent.
02:58Well, yeah, 2030, by that time, you're probably looking for a new closer.
03:00I mean, they don't just fall off trees.
03:02I think you're right about that.
03:02Good call.
03:03Good call.
03:04I can't say he's going to be next to Trevor Huffman or Mariano Rivera.
03:07What would Cleveland sports fans have rather had if it was, like, an either-or situation?
03:12Would it have been him purchasing a minority stake or, like, finishing his career as the
03:17tight end of the Browns?
03:18Minority stake.
03:19Really?
03:20Yeah.
03:21Oh, I think they'd love to see him play tight end for the Browns.
03:24No!
03:25Minority stake!
03:27I don't think a minority stake means there's going to be, like, an infusion of a ton of new
03:31cash into payroll.
03:32It can't hurt, can it?
03:33I just think they thought it would be really cool to see the Cleveland Heights kid play for
03:36the Browns.
03:39At 36, he would be 37 next year.
03:42Yeah.
03:43Instead of having a minority stake of the Cleveland Guardians?
03:46Well, I don't think fans see any tangible benefit out of that.
03:49I don't think they'll, other than you'll see Travis in a couple games a year.
03:52I think there's a better chance to see a tangible benefit of him being a minority owner of the
03:56Cleveland Guardians than playing tight end for the Cleveland Browns.
03:59What's the big benefit?
04:00What I just said.
04:00I mean, now, that's a pie-in-the-sky idea, but being able to invest something into it.
04:04I mean, you remember, who was it?
04:06John Sherman?
04:06John Sherman invested money into this ball club.
04:09That's the last time they spent, quote-unquote, spent a reasonable amount of money for everybody
04:13was when he was involved in the ball club.
04:15Why can't I do the same?
04:16Why can't I deduce the same thing with Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift?
04:21What was Sherman's stake in the team?
04:23Was it, like, 10%?
04:25I think it was 10%.
04:25I don't think you're coming anywhere near that for Travis.
04:28Well, wait a minute.
04:29I don't think Travis is putting $160 million into it.
04:32What's David Blitzer's other teams?
04:34What are the breakdown of the percentages of that?
04:36Where's John at?
04:37He loves to look up stuff like that.
04:38He's part of a group with those teams.
04:40Yeah, there's a group there.
04:41So how much does he own with the other teams?
04:43How much do the other ones contribute then?
04:45But there's way more of a tangible benefit of him being a part owner of the guard.
04:48We got tight end fine.
04:50Harold Fanning Jr. is fine.
04:51The reason I say this.
04:52We'll see where else they go with the position.
04:53I guess it's because I've seen too many of these.
04:55Like, Bill Maher had a minority stake in the Mets.
04:58And they asked him, what was that all about?
05:00He's like, free parking, season tickets.
05:04Like, that was the investment.
05:05Access to a suite.
05:05Yeah, access to the suite.
05:07Bill Maher is not the greatest.
05:09Excuse me.
05:10Bill Maher is not arguably, not even arguable, one of the greatest pop stars of all time's husband.
05:17Bill Maher is a successful television show host.
05:22He ain't got Taylor Swift money.
05:24Travis Kelsey's got Taylor Swift money.
05:26Well, I don't know what the, I'm sure there will be a prenup of some sort.
05:29But, I mean, he's the one who's got Taylor Swift money.
05:32Like, I'm not allowed to dream.
05:34You're assuming this is more than just a 1% stake.
05:37You're acting like this is like a quarter share.
05:39I don't know what it is.
05:41It probably is a 1% stake.
05:42I'm answering your question.
05:44You ask me what has a better chance for something tangible.
05:47And I'm saying that him being a minority partner of the Cleveland Guardians, being married to
05:52the most famous pop star in the world, the richest pop star in the world, would have
05:57a better benefit than him at 37 years old with the Browns in 2027 with probably a rookie
06:03quarterback giving me 400 yards receiving in his final year?
06:07It's just the Cleveland story.
06:09How many years have people spawned over the hopes of something like that?
06:13This is a Cleveland story.
06:14Yeah, but you're not going to see Travis, like, suit up for the Guardians and play catcher.
06:19But you're going to see Travis.
06:20I'm sure he played baseball at some point, right?
06:21But you're going to see Travis Kelsey around the team at some point.
06:24This is, I mean, what's the one argument?
06:25Yeah, but what do the fans get out of that?
06:27What do they actually?
06:28I think they get a little bit, first off, they get the cachet.
06:31If Travis is there, there's no use telling who else is going to be there.
06:35Hint, hint.
06:35Because his wife is way more famous than he is.
06:37The other thing of it is, is that what's the one argument we've been able to make on Paul
06:42Dolan's behalf throughout all of it, is that he's a Cleveland guy committed to keeping the
06:46team in Cleveland.
06:47Well, if he's a Cleveland guy committed to it, we got just one more Cleveland guy making
06:50sure we're doing right by Cleveland.
06:52I'm sure it's not a big stake, but when you're asking me what has the better tangible chance
06:56of some sort of return, it's got to be him being a partial owner.
06:59This story from Jeff Passon says he was brought into it by Blitzer.
07:04Blitzer's the one that brought him.
07:05There you go!
07:07So did he buy a percentage of Blitzers who already bought percentage?
07:10Look at what?
07:11It's in a timeshare.
07:12Yeah, right.
07:13Well, a lot of people...
07:14Where's he going to end up for buying that timeshare?
07:16Well, no, you got...
07:17Well, if he sells it.
07:18Yes, sell them.
07:19Sorry, bud.
07:20According to the ad.
07:21Bad news for you.
07:22Exactly.
07:22If you sell them, that's bad news for you, according to the man.
07:27However, if you buy them, well then, not a bad idea.
07:31So you think they'll have more Taylor Swift nights?
07:33I don't know.
07:34At least rock and blast.
07:37Is that how marriages work?
07:39Like, are you responsible for, like, your partner?
07:43Are you pressuring your partner into showing up to stuff
07:46on an investment you made?
07:47No.
07:48Because he has his own money.
07:50I mean, he's been able to make...
07:51He doesn't need to dip into her money.
07:54If Sarah opened up Sarah's running shop,
07:59you're going to be there opening night.
08:00Oh, yeah, for sure.
08:01Oh, okay.
08:02You're definitely emceeing the opening of Sarah's shoes.
08:06I imagine there may be a day
08:09maybe Taylor Swift sings the national anthem?
08:12Ooh.
08:12That would be nice,
08:13because Usher famously never sang the national anthem
08:16at any of the Cavs games.
08:17It's a hard song to sing.
08:18Famously.
08:19That's a hard...
08:19We all were waiting in the finals, like,
08:21is this going to be an Usher?
08:23Nope.
08:23Usher just stood there courtside, refused to sing.
08:26If he doesn't have confidence in singing that song,
08:28it's a hard-ass song to sing.
08:28I think you just wanted...
08:29Hey, you've got to pay me more.
08:30I was at the...
08:31Well, wait a minute.
08:32Cut me in more.
08:33Oh, well, you're part of the team.
08:34You're getting the return on investment.
08:35If you can sing the song, get on out there and sing it.
08:37This was hilarious to me.
08:38Usher's right there courtside.
08:40I do think this means the next time
08:43she goes on tour, progressive field,
08:47book it.
08:48Oh, my gosh.
08:49It's too small.
08:50I know.
08:51It's too small for her.
08:52They are playing baseball stadiums now,
08:56these tours,
08:57as opposed to football stadiums.
08:59Oh, you think she's going to, like,
09:00dwindle in popularity
09:01and she's going to have to downsize?
09:02You know, Elton John just played there
09:04a couple of years ago.
09:05So when she's 60.
09:07But I...
09:08No, I don't think that.
09:09I think Owen's right, though.
09:10I think if they have a Cleveland tour stop,
09:11it's going to be like,
09:12listen, my husband is part owner
09:13of the minority stake owner of the Guardians.
09:16We've got to do it.
09:17We will have a dome at that time.
09:18Yeah, we've got to have it at progressive field.
09:19We will have a dome at that time,
09:20but I'm sure they're going to be like,
09:21well, too bad, so sad,
09:23and he's part owner of the Guardians.
09:24We're going to do it at progressive field.
09:26I mean, they're business people.
09:28I mean, you're the one
09:29who famously told me the story
09:30about her dad when she first started,
09:33like, when she first got her rise,
09:35what, bought the...
09:36The fleet.
09:37The fleet.
09:37Yeah, all the tour buses.
09:38And then leased it out back to them
09:40so they get...
09:40That's just...
09:41That's strong business.
09:42It's an idea I would never have
09:44the foresight to have.
09:45That's why I'm doing this.
09:462-1-6-4-7-4.
09:47You really would rather have him play
09:48for the Browns?
09:49I'd love to see him for the Browns.
09:50I don't even care
09:51if he were half the player.
09:52Just be really cool
09:53to see Travis Kelsey suit up.
09:55And not have any minority stake
09:56in the Guardians or anybody else.
09:57I don't think you're going to see
09:58that much out of these.
09:59There's just been so many athletes
10:01that get, like, 1%
10:02or half of a percent of a team,
10:03and then you forget,
10:05and then you hear two years later,
10:07oh, yeah, they sold it.
10:08They don't even own it anymore.
10:09That's understandable.
10:09They realize the investment
10:11wasn't even that good.
10:11I understand,
10:12but when you have...
10:13Are they...
10:14Again, are they married
10:15to the most famous
10:16and powerful pop singer
10:17in the world?
10:18They are not.
10:19So, I dare to dream.
10:212-1-6-4-7-4-0-0-92.
10:23I love how you just shake your...
10:24You nod your head at me.
10:26Like, they're not watching
10:27on YouTube right now.
10:28If you just nod your head at me,
10:30you're just so dismissive about it.
10:31You're like,
10:32whatever, Kenny.
10:32Yeah, go ahead
10:33and play your little games.
10:34Okay, fine.
10:35No, it's fine.
10:36That'd be awesome
10:37if Taylor showed up.
10:38You saw how big of a deal
10:39it was when she came
10:39to the Cavs game.
10:40There were people
10:41that basically ignored,
10:42and rightfully so,
10:44they ignored the first
10:4510 minutes of the third quarter.
10:47Anybody that had the bracelets
10:49to be downstairs,
10:50they just wanted to sit there
10:51and take pictures of Taylor.
10:53That was hilarious.
10:54Ignored most of the series.
10:55Oh, that was the problem.
10:56He wanted to see Taylor Swift,
10:58and that was it.
10:58He was just like,
10:59well, I don't know
11:00what I'm doing now.
Comments