Every year at this time, Major League Baseball holds the All-Star Game. Also called the Midsummer Classic, it sees some of the best players from the National and American Leagues go up against one another. In honor of tonight’s 89th All-Star Game, we’re celebrating five sports team owners who own superyachts. There’s even one particular team owner who not only owns a baseball team, but also hasn’t been shy about showing off his big boat.
We rank the yachts from largest to smallest:
- Eclipse. Russia-born Roman Abramovich, who became an Israeli citizen earlier this year, arguably has the highest profile among sports team owners who own superyachts. He famously owns the Chelsea Football Club. (That’s a soccer team, for those of you who don’t follow international sport.) He also famously owns Eclipse, having taken delivery of her in 2010. Interestingly, that’s the same year the National League won the All-Star Game since 1966.
- Octopus. Among sports team owners who own superyachts, it’s hard to beat Paul Allen. He not only owns the NFL team the Seattle Seahawks, but also the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers. In addition, he holds a minority stake in Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders. Of course, in yachting circles, Allen is renowned for taking delivery of the 414-foot (126-meter) Octopus in 2003. For more on Octopus, see our list of superyachts of Super Bowl contenders.
- Laurel. Well, technically, Tom Golisano and his wife Monica Seles, who own Laurel (top), aren’t sports team owners. But, Golisano once was, while simultaneously owning a yacht. Previously, he owned the NHL team the Buffalo Sabres, from 2003 to 2011. In yet another sports tie, Golisano expressed interest in bidding for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014. Seles, of course, gained sports prominence in her own right on the tennis court. Golisano bought the 240-foot (73-meter) Laurel in 2014, the same year he and Seles became engaged. Golisano also owned another yacht, the 161-foot (49.05-meter) Match Point, for years before buying Laurel. He sold Match Point last year.
- Elysian. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is further among the highest profile sports team owners who own superyachts. For many years, he owned the 164-foot (50-meter) Iroquois. If you’re a Sox ticket holder, you may have seen her in Boston Harbor, before he sold her in 2013. These days, you might spot his current yacht, Elysian, in the harbor. Perhaps not coincidentally, the 217-footer (66-meter) is there right now. Henry acquired Elysian via auction in 2016, when she carried the name Ester III. The year was notable for Henry for another reason. That’s the year that David Ortiz, who played for the Red Sox for 14 seasons, retired.
- Blackhawk. The late Arthur Wirtz bought the NHL team the Chicago Blackhawks in 1954. In 1971, he took delivery of the 123-foot (37.54-meter) Blackhawk IV. Shortened to Blackhawk in more recent years, the yacht frequently entertained his family and business associates. She did so under the guidance of his son, too, the late William Wirtz. William’s son Rocky now heads the hockey team’s operations and oversees the family yacht.
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