Kraken co-founder and ownership group member David Bonderman passed away on Wednesday at age 82, according to a club statement.
A Los Angeles native, Bonderman had an expansive career as a businessman before getting involved in the sports scene. He also graduated from Harvard Law School and had a brief career as a lawyer, including serving as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General in 1968 and 1969.
After accumulating most of his wealth as a founding partner of TPG Capital, Bonderman partnered with film/television producer Jerry Bruckheimer to file an expansion application for a Seattle franchise in 2018. The duo, along with Kraken president and CEO Tod Leiweke, established the Kraken’s ownership group as the Seattle Hockey Partners and acquired the franchise when they paid the final installment of their $650MM expansion fee in 2021.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement on Bonderman’s passing:
David Bonderman lived a life that was astounding in its breadth of achievement, unflinching in its commitment to excellence and relentless in its passion for improving lives – particularly in his adopted home state of Washington. An accomplished litigator and businessman, Bonderman was determined that his personal success positively impact others through conservation, philanthropy, sports, and music.
A proud alumnus of the University of Washington, in 2018 he brought NHL hockey to the Pacific Northwest, gaining approval from the Board of Governors to establish an expansion franchise in Seattle that would be named the Kraken and begin play in 2021. Adding David to the Board and the Seattle franchise to the NHL made our League and our game stronger, setting new standards in environmental responsibility and diversity and inclusion.
By extension, Bonderman was also a co-owner of the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken’s primary development affiliate since their second season in the league. His investment helped kick off an unprecedented run of success for minor-league hockey in the Palm Springs area – the Firebirds have made the Calder Cup Final in each of their first two seasons in the league.
PHR extends its deepest sympathies to the Bonderman family, his friends, and loved ones.