David Bonderman, founding owner of the Kraken and quietly one of the more influential figures in sports, died at 82 on Wednesday, leaving behind a substantial legacy.
Bonderman built a fortune estimated at more than $7 billion through a particularly diverse business career that included significant entries into private equity, law, aviation, banking, technology, and health care. That wide skill set ultimately led the Los Angeles native to serve on more than 80 corporate boards, including heavyweights such as General Motors, MGM, and Univision.
The cause of his death was not immediately known.
Though not an owner with nearly the household name recognition of figures like the Cowboys’ Jerry Jones or Mets’ Steve Cohen, Bonderman had a long and impactful involvement in and around pro sports. More than a quarter-century ago, he teamed up with Washington-area real estate mogul Ted Lerner in a bid to buy Washington’s NFL team, now known as the Commanders. Dan Snyder ultimately prevailed in that sale, and the now-late Lerner would go on to buy MLB’s Nationals.
Later on, Bonderman was part of an investor team that helped bring T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas into existence, with that facility now the home of the Golden Knights—and potentially, a future NBA expansion franchise. He also was a minority shareholder in the Celtics.
Bonderman’s biggest sports impact, though, would be in the NHL where he led the expansion push for Seattle to get the NHL’s franchise. The Bonderman-led group, also included notable figures such as Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, prevailed in 2018 in a $650 million deal, and began play three years later. Now in its fourth season, the Kraken are one of the NHL’s most popular franchises, and already have a playoff season to its credit.
As part of that push to bring the NHL to Seattle, Bonderman and Oak View Group remade the former KeyArena into Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken’s home venue and now one of the industry’s most technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable facilities.
Bonderman’s daughter, Samantha Holloway, will now take over as the Kraken’s lead figure. She already was a co-owner and alternate governor of the team, and is also a key player in Seattle’s ongoing push to bring back the NBA with an expansion franchise to succeed the long-departed SuperSonics.
“David Bonderman lived a life that was astounding its breadth of achievement, unflinching in its commitment to excellence, and relentless in its passion for improving lives—particularly in his adopted home state of Washington,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “Adding David to the board and the Seattle franchise to the NHL made our league and our game stronger.”
