Melinda French Gates Skates Into Kraken Ownership With Minority Stake

Melinda French Gates is stepping into the NHL ownership game with a minority stake in the Seattle Kraken, and that is the kind of move that gets people in boardrooms and suites talking. In this league, ownership is never just about the balance sheet - it is about influence, access, and the long game behind the scenes. Seattle has always marketed itself as a different kind of hockey market, and this adds another layer to a franchise still building its identity.