Travis Kelce’s business portfolio just added another major piece, and this one carries a personal connection that goes back to his childhood in northeast Ohio. The Kansas City Chiefs star has officially purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, the MLB team he grew up watching as a kid in Cleveland Heights. Reports say Kelce joined the ownership group led by David Blitzer, the billionaire investor whose sports holdings already include the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers.
The move ties one of the NFL’s biggest stars to the franchise he spent years cheering for during the powerhouse Cleveland Indians era of the 1990s. Back then, Kelce was just another young fan watching teams led by stars like Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Omar Vizquel dominate the American League Central.
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN after the news broke. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream.”
Kelce spoke at length about how growing up in Cleveland shaped him, crediting the city’s work ethic and community for helping build the mentality that eventually carried him to NFL superstardom.
“That mentality of Cleveland against the world runs deep,” he said.
From Cleveland Fan to MLB Owner
The Guardians are currently valued at roughly $1.7 billion, a sharp rise from the estimated valuation when Blitzer first bought into the organization in 2022. Under the current arrangement, Blitzer reportedly has the option to become the team’s majority owner after the 2027 season.
For Kelce, though, this appears to be about more than business numbers.
Baseball was actually his first serious sport. Long before he became Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target in Kansas City, Kelce was considered a legitimate baseball prospect around Cleveland. As a senior in high school in 2008, he reportedly hit .588 with 6 home runs and drew the attention of scouts before football eventually took over.
“I think I had always felt most confident on the diamond,” Kelce admitted. “The football thing chose me at the end of the day.”
Even after becoming one of the most recognizable players in football, Kelce has never hidden his loyalty to Cleveland sports. Just last week, he and fiancée Taylor Swift were courtside watching the Cavaliers battle the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Joining a Growing Trend Among Superstar Athletes
His investment places him among a growing club of superstar athletes buying into MLB franchises. LeBron James owns part of the Boston Red Sox. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. Patrick Mahomes joined the Kansas City Royals ownership group in 2020.
Athletes increasingly see professional sports ownership as a long-term business move, but Kelce’s case stands out because of his direct personal ties to the franchise and the city itself. He repeatedly emphasized that Cleveland remains central to his identity despite spending his entire NFL career in Kansas City.
The Guardians also gain another nationally recognizable figure attached to the organization at a time when sports franchises increasingly rely on celebrity partnerships to expand visibility and branding opportunities.
Kelce’s Expanding Business Empire
Kelce’s off-field empire keeps growing as his NFL career moves deeper into its later stages. Despite retirement speculation earlier this year, the 35-year-old tight end signed a new one-year deal with the Chiefs worth $12 million for what will be his 14th NFL season.
Away from football, he has invested in multiple industries, including Formula One’s Alpine racing team, restaurants, beverages, entertainment companies, and the wildly successful “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason.
His schedule remains packed heading into the summer. Along with preparing for another NFL season, reports say Kelce and Taylor Swift are preparing for a wedding expected in early July.
Now, the kid who once sat in the stands cheering for Cleveland baseball owns part of the team himself.
