Editordude: We offer this update on the billionaires bidding on the San Diego Padres as a way to introduce the crazy idea that perhaps the San Diego public ought to have some say in the future of the team. It’s not an unworldly idea; just look at the Green Bay Packers, a football team described this way:
a publicly owned, non-profit franchise in the NFL, owned by over 539,000 stockholders rather than a single individual or private group. Organized as Green Bay Packers, Inc. since 1923, the team is governed by a board of directors and a seven-member executive committee.
National Today – San Diego / April 11, 2026
The sale of the San Diego Padres baseball team has turned into a high-stakes bidding war among billionaire investors, with four groups still in the running to acquire the franchise. The final bids are expected in April, and the winning bid could shatter the MLB record of $2.42 billion set by Steve Cohen’s purchase of the New York Mets in 2020.
Why it matters
The Padres sale reflects a broader trend of sports teams becoming prized assets for global investors looking to diversify their portfolios and build media and real estate empires. This raises questions about the future of sports ownership and whether local communities will have a meaningful stake as teams become global commodities.
The details
The four groups still vying for the Padres include:
- José E. Feliciano, who owns a stake in Chelsea FC,
- Dan Friedkin, who has investments in European soccer clubs, and
- Joe Lacob, the owner of the Golden State Warriors.
- The involvement of local figures like former NFL quarterback Drew Brees and Vuori founder Joe Kudla suggests bidders are trying to balance global ambition with local appeal, but their influence may be limited in a $3 billion deal.
Final bids for the Padres are expected in April 2026.
The current MLB record for a team sale was set in 2020 when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets for $2.42 billion.
The players
- José E. Feliciano — A billionaire investor who owns a stake in Chelsea FC, one of the bidding groups for the Padres.
- Dan Friedkin – A billionaire who has investments in European soccer clubs, another bidder for the Padres.
- Joe Lacob – The owner of the Golden State Warriors, one of the groups bidding for the Padres.
- Drew Brees – A Hall of Fame NFL quarterback with strong ties to San Diego, who has expressed interest in partnering with a potential ownership group.
- Joe Kudla – The founder of the Vuori clothing brand, who has also shown interest in partnering with a Padres ownership group.
A combination of Drew Brees/Joe Kudla is the best option for the Seidlers and the most reflective of the love and admiration that St. Peter had for our San Diego Padres. Kudla and Brees are locals and will almost assuredly keep the team here, without question.
The others mentioned are developers most likely seeking to make a fortune through building another tax payer funded stadium somewhere else in the country.
I believe the Seidler family is going to respect the memory of St. Pete and keep the Friars winning right here in San Diego where they originated in the Pacific Coast League.
It’s a business. There’s going to be a lockout. The answer to the headline is no.
BREaKinG NeWs
The Padres are on the verge of historic new ownership.
San Diego’s lone major sports franchise is about to be sold for a record price to a group headed by Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, a source confirmed Friday morning. The sale is subject to the approval of 22 of MLB’s other 29 owners, which is expected to happen in the next few weeks.
The price is $3.9 billion — $1.5 billion more than the previous Major League Baseball record paid by Steve Cohen to purchase the Mets in 2020.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report the pending agreement.
The 53-year-old Felicianio is one of the founders of Clearlake Capital. The Los Angeles-based billionaire, who is one of the owners of the Premier League club Chelsea, beat out three other groups bidding to buy the team. Those groups were led by Dan Friedkin, who owns the Premier League club Everton, Tom Gores, who owns the Detroit Pistons and more than a quarter stake in the Chargers, and Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/17/padres-agree-to-sell-team-to-businessman-jose-feliciano-for-record-price/