The Seattle Kraken are now the third NHL franchise with a female owner.
Samantha Holloway — founder of tech companies GoSpotCheck and Hat Labs — is now a co-owner, joining her father David Bonderman in the team’s ownership group.
- Holloway was previously a minority investor in the Kraken.
- In March, she was named the chairperson of the team’s executive committee.
- Bonderman is the co-founder of private equity firm TPG Capital.
- He’s a minority investor in Boston Basketball Partners — owners of the Boston Celtics.
The Kraken — the 13th-most-valuable NHL franchise at $875 million as of December 2021, per Forbes — join the Colorado Avalanche and the Buffalo Sabres as teams with female owners.
Kim Pegula has been a co-owner of the Sabres since 2011 when Terry Pegula bought the team for $189 million.
Ann Walton Kroenke is a co-owner of the Avalanche with Stan Kroenke — who also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal.
Potential Ownership Change
In November, the Ottawa Senators were put on the market after the family of the team’s late owner Eugene Melnyk hired Galatioto Sports Partners to explore a sale of the franchise.
Melnyk purchased the Senators for $92 million in 2003 to save it from bankruptcy. As of December 2021, the team was valued at $525 million — the 28th most-valuable NHL franchise.
Actor and Wrexham AFC co-owner Ryan Reynolds is reportedly “very interested” in owning the Senators, though he claims he would need to be part of a consortium of investors.
