Travis Kelce has spent more than a decade building a Hall of Fame career with the Kansas City Chiefs, but one of the biggest business moves of his life brought him back to where everything started.
On Wednesday, news broke that the three-time Super Bowl champion had purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians ownership group, giving Kelce a direct connection to the major league baseball franchise he grew up supporting in northeast Ohio.
The announcement quickly gained traction across the sports world because Kelce is not the only Chiefs superstar with MLB ownership ties. Patrick Mahomes already owns a minority stake in the Kansas City Royals, making the longtime teammates connected in yet another way away from football. Mahomes wasted little time reacting publicly to the news, posting a congratulatory message to Kelce on X shortly after the investment became official.
The move adds to Kelce’s growing off-field empire, which already includes media ventures, sponsorships and investments across multiple sports industries.
From Cleveland Heights Kid to Cleveland Baseball Owner
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Kelce called the opportunity deeply personal because of his lifelong connection to Cleveland and the Guardians organization.
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream.”
Kelce grew up in nearby Cleveland Heights and became a passionate fan during the franchise’s run of success in the 1990s. He recalled attending games with his father and watching stars like Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome and Sandy Alomar Jr. during Cleveland’s rise to one of baseball’s premier organizations.
Patrick Mahomes Sends Public Message to Kelce
Mahomes publicly reacted to the announcement on Wednesday with a short but supportive post directed toward his Chiefs teammate.
“Congrats! @tkelce”
The reaction immediately caught attention online considering Mahomes has already established himself as part of MLB ownership through his purchase of a stake in the Royals in 2020. Kelce’s purchase now creates an interesting dynamic between the two teammates, especially with Cleveland and Kansas City competing in the American League Central.
Kelce even joked to ESPN that there would be “bragging rights” involved when the Guardians and Royals face each other.
Baseball Was Once Kelce’s Serious Backup Plan
Long before becoming one of the NFL’s greatest tight ends, Kelce was viewed as a legitimate baseball prospect in Ohio.
ESPN reported that Kelce hit .588 with six home runs during his senior baseball season in 2008 and once believed the sport might become his future professionally.
“I think I had always felt most confident on the diamond,” Kelce told ESPN.
That baseball background makes this latest investment feel especially meaningful. Instead of simply attaching his name to a franchise, Kelce is reconnecting with the sport that helped shape his early athletic career.
Kelce’s Business Portfolio Continues Growing
Kelce’s investment in the Guardians is the latest addition to an increasingly impressive business portfolio.
Alongside Mahomes, Kelce previously invested in the Alpine Formula 1 team. ESPN also noted that Kelce owns stakes in several other companies, including businesses connected to hospitality, beverages and entertainment.
The Guardians are reportedly valued at approximately $1.7 billion, according to ESPN, and currently sit atop the AL Central standings.
