The Phillies biggest rival could soon be owned by a well-known sports mogul
Phillies fans know Joshua Harris as the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils, but he could soon be adding a new sports team to his portfolio, the New York Mets.
Scott Soshnick of Variety reports that Harris and David S. Blitzer, a co-managing partner and minority owner of the 76ers, are “among the suitors” to purchase the Mets from the Wilpon family.
Soshnick adds that Harris and representatives for the Mets did not provide comment for the report and that talks are still in the early stages.
The Mets were set to sell a majority of the team to Steve Cohen for $2.6 billion, but Cohen pulled out of the deal late in negotiations.
Former Yankees All-Star and now ESPN commentator Alex Rodriguez has also been among the reported suitors for the Mets.
Harris has a net worth of about $5 billion, according to Forbes, and paid $290 million for the 76ers. He’d be collecting another sports team if he were to add a baseball club, already owning a major hockey, basketball, and Premier League soccer team, the Crystal Palace Football Club.
In 1990, Harris cofounded the private equity powerhouse Apollo Global Management and still serves as the senior marketing director, according to Forbes.
How should Phillies fans feel if Harris does in fact purchase the Mets? He’s already stepped outside of the Philadelphia sports market by buying the Devils, but adding the Mets to his portfolio is a whole new ballgame.
Don’t be surprised if Harris is booed (even more) whenever fans are able to attend 76ers games.