N※N

Nick Saban Joins NHL as Minority Owner of St. Louis Blues

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ins-nhl-as-minority-owner-of-st-louis-blues.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 16:12 GMT by The Globe and Mail
      Locale: Alabama, UNITED STATES

Nick Saban’s Unexpected Foray into Hockey: A Minority Stake in the St. Louis Blues

The Globe and Mail’s recent feature in the sports/hockey section reported that former University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban has purchased a minority stake in the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues. The deal, which was announced on Thursday, signals a significant shift for the 57‑year‑old coaching legend, who has spent his career on the sidelines of college football and has little public history in the world of professional hockey. In a sport that is only beginning to attract high‑profile cross‑sport investors, Saban’s involvement offers a glimpse into the evolving business of the NHL and the growing appeal of the league to figures outside its traditional circles.

1. From Crimson Tide to the NHL: A Brief Portrait of Nick Saban

Saban’s name is synonymous with Alabama football’s golden era, having led the Crimson Tide to three BCS national championships (2009, 2011, 2012) and an undefeated 2009 season that earned him a Heisman‑winning legacy in the coaching world. His reputation as a meticulous strategist and a tough, disciplined disciplinarian earned him the nickname “The Coach.” In 2024, he had recently stepped down from the Alabama program after a brief stint as a “consulting” adviser to the athletic department—a move that many speculated might lead to a career in the NFL or a media role.

The news that he has now entered the realm of NHL ownership was unexpected, yet it is consistent with Saban’s long‑standing interest in sports beyond football. The Globe and Mail notes that the former coach has been an avid hockey fan for decades, an early passion that he has credited with shaping his coaching philosophy. “I grew up watching the game, and the way a team is built around a core group of players is a lot like building a football roster,” Saban told the reporters in a brief interview. The quote is linked to a longer piece on Saban’s coaching approach in the University of Alabama section of the same website.

2. The Deal in Detail

Saban’s minority stake in the Blues is reported to be approximately 5 % of the franchise’s ownership, amounting to roughly $15 million based on the latest valuation of the team, which sits near $450 million according to Bloomberg and the NHL’s financial disclosures. The purchase was made through a newly formed investment vehicle, the Saban Investment Group, which will own the stake alongside a consortium of existing Blues owners, including the current majority stakeholder, the Pritzker family.

The transaction was formally closed at a ceremony in St. Louis on the sidelines of the Blues’ 2024 training camp, with the team’s president, Jim Larkin, issuing a statement that praised Saban’s commitment to the sport. “Nick brings an unparalleled work ethic and a deep understanding of building a championship‑ready culture,” Larkin said. “We are excited to have him on board as we continue to develop the franchise.”

Saban’s role, however, is limited to ownership rather than day‑to‑day operations. He will receive regular updates on team performance and will have access to the front office, but no decision‑making authority is expected. “I’m here to support the Blues, not to run the show,” he clarified. The Globe and Mail’s coverage links to the official NHL page for the St. Louis Blues, which provides additional context on the team’s recent performance and organizational structure.

3. The Significance for the NHL

The NHL has been aggressively courting high‑profile investors in recent years, hoping to increase the league’s visibility and stabilize franchise valuations. Notable among these are former NBA star Steve Nash’s ownership of the Toronto Raptors (now part of the NBA), and the entry of high‑net‑worth individuals into minor‑league hockey as a form of community investment. Saban’s stake is the first high‑profile football coach to purchase a share of an NHL team, and it underscores the growing crossover appeal of hockey among American sports personalities.

In a statement to the Globe and Mail, a spokesperson for the NHL’s Business Affairs Department noted, “We’re thrilled to welcome Nick Saban to the Blues family. His dedication to teamwork, preparation, and perseverance aligns perfectly with the values we champion across the league.” The statement also highlighted the Blues’ status as the 2019 Stanley Cup champions, making the team a natural target for investors looking for a franchise with a winning pedigree.

4. Potential Impact on the Blues

The Blues’ management has already been looking to expand the franchise’s influence beyond the immediate St. Louis market. In March 2024, the team announced a partnership with the local university’s athletic department to develop a new player development academy—an initiative that is now likely to receive additional funding through Saban’s investment. The article suggests that Saban’s involvement could open doors for cross‑promotion between college football and hockey, perhaps leading to joint marketing campaigns or shared fan‑experience initiatives.

The Globe and Mail’s piece quotes Blues captain Alex Iafallo, who said, “Having someone like Nick on board is a great morale boost. He’s a master at building a team, and that’s something we can all learn from.” Iafallo’s comment is linked to an in‑depth interview on the team’s official website, providing a player’s perspective on the ownership change.

5. Broader Trends in Sports Ownership

Saban’s purchase is part of a larger trend in sports where former athletes and coaches are moving into ownership roles. In the NFL, former quarterback Alex Smith bought a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers, while former NBA star Chris Bosh recently joined the board of the Miami Heat. These moves reflect a shift in the sports industry: owning a team can be both a financial investment and a platform for branding, community outreach, and personal legacy.

The article references Forbes’ 2024 coverage of “The Rise of the Former‑Coach Investor,” which provides a comparative analysis of similar moves in the NFL and NBA. This contextualizes Saban’s purchase within a broader narrative that the Globe and Mail believes is “the next natural evolution for high‑profile sports figures.”

6. Closing Thoughts

While the Globe and Mail’s article is a concise announcement, it touches on multiple layers of significance: Saban’s personal love for hockey, the strategic timing of the investment, the business model of the Blues, and the broader evolution of sports ownership. For fans of the Blues, it presents an opportunity to see a new set of fans and potential partnerships on the horizon. For followers of Nick Saban, it offers a glimpse into how the coach’s career might evolve after football—a sport that has always been, at its core, about strategy, preparation, and teamwork.

In sum, the purchase of a minority stake by former Alabama football coach Nick Saban in the St. Louis Blues exemplifies the increasingly porous boundaries between sports disciplines and the emerging role of former coaches as investors and ambassadors in new arenas. The Globe and Mail’s coverage, complete with links to the Blues’ official site, the NHL’s corporate page, and related commentary on sports‑industry trends, provides readers with a comprehensive overview of a development that could shape both the future of the team and the broader sports business landscape.