Seattle Kraken add NFL's Lynch as minority owner

The expansion Seattle Kraken are adding some additional star power to their ownership group.

The Kraken announced Monday that former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and Grammy winner Macklemore are joining the minority investor group.

The two are taking small stakes in the franchise but bringing big ideas about community engagement and outreach to go along with their financial commitment. One of the original members of Seattle's ownership group was Hollywood film maker Jerry Bruckheimer.

“I'd say that perhaps we didn't need just two more investors. But these are investors who uniquely want to help us in the community and are excited about what we're doing,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke told The Associated Press.

The franchise is in the final weeks of its inaugural season after paying a $650 million expansion fee to join the NHL

Lynch was a member of the Seattle Seahawks from 2010-15 and 2019, and was part of the first team in franchise history to win the Super Bowl. He's a beloved figure among sports fans in the area and last year ventured into sports ownership with an investment in the Oakland Roots SC, which plays in the USL Championship, the second tier of men's soccer in the United States.

Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, said part of his efforts will focus on the music community and curating partnerships between the team and young musicians to take advantage of smaller spaces at Climate Pledge Arena for performances on game nights.

He also intends to partner on a charity golf tournament involving the team and his Bogey Boys golf brand.