Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson may be aligning with the Josh Harris-led group that’s pursuing the New York Mets, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Adelson, whose net worth is about $30 billion, is particularly interested in the possibility of a casino being part of the real estate development around Citi Field, said the person, who was granted anonymity because the matter is private.
Private equity firm Silver Lake denied involvement with Harris’s group, which was reported by the New York Post. “Any claim that Silver Lake is making or joining a bid for the NY Mets is entirely false and inaccurate,” the company said in a statement. The Post in the same report cited Adelson’s involvement in the bidding group.
Deep pocketed partners would help the Harris group compete with hedge fund titan Steve Cohen, whose net worth is about $10 billion. Cohen already owns an 8% stake in the Major League Baseball club.
A spokesperson for Harris declined to comment.
The Harris-led group, which includes Blackstone executive David Blitzer, is among four bidders still vying for the team. A group that includes former big-league star Alex Rodriguez, whose backers are Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola and Vitaminwater co-founder Mike Repole, is another.
Harris and Blitzer also own the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s Devils, as well as the hockey team’s arena, the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The sale process is being overseen by Allen & Co.
Cohen last year was in talks to buy up to 80 percent of the Mets in a deal that valued the club at $2.6 billion.
The Mets are controlled by the Wilpon and Katz families. They hope to complete a sale by the end of the year.
(This story has been updated with a statement from Silver Lake denying the firm’s involvement with a bid for the Mets.)
