© 2026 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Travis Kelce buys minority ownership stake in Cleveland Guardians

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Cleveland.
Ron Schwane
/
The Associated Press
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Cleveland.

Cleveland Heights alumnus and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is joining the Cleveland Guardians ownership group.

NFL tight end Travis Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, is set to purchase a minority stake in his hometown Cleveland Guardians.

Kelce made the announcement on his "New Heights" podcast Wednesday morning.

"This is some of the coolest stuff I've ever been a part of," Kelce said during the podcast. "The childhood memories, jumping on the (RTA) Rapid with the family or my friends in high school and going to a game ... There are so many countless memories of the '90s and early 2000s where it's in me to always root for the Guards and always want to be a part of them."

Kelce and his brother, Jason, attended Cleveland Heights High School before their NFL careers. Travis has earned three Super Bowl rings with Kansas City while Jason, who is retired, won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.

Travis Kelce noted he hasn't been able to return to Cleveland as much as he'd like, but said the opportunity was too good to pass up.

"I think it's a dream come true for a Cleveland kid," he said. "Any Cleveland kid would be through the roof right now, and I'm happy to be the honorable one to get to do it for us."

In a press release issued Wednesday, Guardians CEO and Chairman Paul Dolan and Guardians partner David Blitzer both praised the Chiefs star for knowing what it takes to win at the highest levels, and how "he's exemplified that throughout his playing career and in the way he shows up as a community leader and businessman."

"He cares deeply for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and is committed to supporting our mission of building out a world-class organization that helps uplift the communities we serve," Dolan and Blitzer added.

The Guardians also announced plans for a celebration with Travis Kelce when they host the Detroit Tigers on June 14.

Copyright 2026 WKSU

Sean Fitzgerald
Sean Fitzgerald is a senior journalism major at Kent State University working as a 2020 summer news intern. Sean has been with Black Squirrel Radio, Kent State's student-run radio station since the spring of 2018 as a sports show host and co-host, a web article contributor and sports department coordinator. Sean hopes to pursue a career in sports journalism once he finishes school. [Copyright 2026 WKSU]
KCUR is here for Kansas City, because Kansas City is here for KCUR.

Your support makes KCUR's work possible — from reporting that keeps officials accountable, to storytelling that connects our community. You can make sure the future of local journalism is strong.