John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
To say that the Great One has been having a busy summer would be a bit of an understatement.
Later on Monday, the National Lacrosse League will announce its latest expansion to Las Vegas for the 2022-23 season. Among those involved in minority ownership of the team include Wayne Gretzky, PGA Tour golfer Dustin Johnson and Basketball Hall Of Famer Steve Nash. The newest sports franchise in the city will now be competing with the WNBA, NFL, United Soccer League, AHL and NHL.
Gretzky is no stranger to the sport of box lacrosse or even sports ownership. The Great One grew up playing the sport in Brantford, Ont., and has been an advocate for hockey players to pick up the game in the summertime in their time away from the ice.
Gretzky’s ventures into the world of sports franchise ownership span 30 years. While still an active NHL player, Gretzky joined up with Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall and legendary comedian John Candy to purchase the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League from 1991-1994.
During Gretzky’s tenure with the Argos, the club would win the 1991 Grey Cup and Gretzky’s name would be added to the trophy, making him one of the very few people in sports to have their name engraved on both the Grey and Stanley Cup.
During the 2000-01 NHL season, Gretzky joined the then Phoenix Coyotes ownership group as a minority owner and combined the role with his duties as head coach from 2005-06 until 2008-09.
The news on Gretzky joining the Las Vegas NLL ownership group follows his departure from his role within the Edmonton Oilers parent company as the Chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group to take a role with TNT as an NHL analyst and ambassador of BetMGM.
