Where Are the Maloof Brothers Now
The Maloof brothers sold their remaining ownership stakes in the Vegas Golden Knights to majority owner Bill Foley in January 2024. What happened to the Maloof brothers marks a major shift in how the franchise operates, even though their fingerprints remain all over hockey's most surprising success story. These sports investors were crucial in bringing the NHL to Las Vegas, and fans should understand why this ownership change matters for the team's future.
From Sacramento Kings to Vegas hockey
The Maloof family Joe,Gavin,George,and Phil built their sports empire by owning the NBA's Sacramento Kings from 1998 until 2013.They really knew how to build fan bases and run professional sports teams.When the Golden Knights launched as an expansion franchise in 2017,the Maloofs saw a huge opportunity in the Nevada desert.They partnered with Bill Foley and worked alongside NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to establish hockey in Las Vegas.Their role in recruiting early fans and building community support proved essential to the team's rapid sucess.Honestly,without them,Vegas wouldn't be the hockey city it is today.
Why the brothers sold their stakes
In January 2024, the brothers exited their minority ownership positions by selling to Bill Foley. Consolidating ownership under one family simplifies business operations and decision-making (which makes sense from a corporate standpoint). Interestingly, their sister Adrienne Maloof kept her indirect ownership stake as a limited partner. She remains connected to the franchise even as her brothers stepped back. The public reasons for the sale focused on streamlining ownership structure rather than any problems with team performance. Nobody was unhappy with how things were going.
What this means for the Golden Knights
Bill Foley's family now has complete operational control over the franchise. The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023, proving they're among hockey's elite teams. Las Vegas shouldn't get overlooked as a hockey market, either. The team has built a passionate fan base in a desert city where nobody expected hockey to actually work. The Golden Knights remain one of professional sports' greatest expansion success stories. Ownership changes don't erase what the Maloofs helped create they just shift who runs it going forward.
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