The owners of the Chicago Bulls

Bulls Owners

Grocers love many things, and among them are basketball and history. And today they wanted to know more about the Chicago Bulls. You have to know that when we talk about a basketball franchise, we are talking about a company. And who says company, says owner. And as the Bulls team was created in 1966, the famous basketball franchise of Michael Jordan has known several. Fasten your seatbelts, put on your Chicago Bulls cap, the grocers introduce you to the 3 main owners of one of the most mythical NBA basketball franchises of all time.

Dick Klein

Dick Oland Klein is the founder of Chicago Bulls. He is one of the rare owners to have also been a professional basketball player. It is thanks to his pugnacity that the Bulls team was born. It is necessary to know that Chicago has seen many basketball teams before seeing the arrival of the Bulls team. One could even speak of a curse. The Chicago Stags & Packers tried to settle there, but never managed to put down roots. Klein always wanted to see a basketball team in his city again. At first Klein's idea didn't resonate with local businessmen who might have invested. But that all changed when ABC television began to show interest in broadcasting the NBA. By working with Klein, they gave him enough exposure to find investors to make his dream a reality. On January 26, 1966, the NBA authorized Klein to create an expansion franchise and he was named general manager. One of his first actions was to find a name for his franchise: the Bulls were born! The first year was a success, the Bulls reached the playoffs, making this team the only expansion team to achieve this feat in the first season.

Arthur Wirtz

In 1972 Dick Klein sold his shares in the Bulls, along with other co-owners, to Arthur Wirtz. Arthur Wirtz is a businessman, who specialized in sports real estate. His company has, among other things, acquired Madison Square Garden, the Detroit Red Wings arena, and Chicago Stadium. So he was all set to become a franchise owner. He did so by purchasing the Bulls in 1972. He was also the field hockey owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1985 he sold the Bulls to Jerry Reinsdorf.

Jerry Reinsdorf

Jerry M Reinsdorf is a lawyer who made his fortune in real estate in Chi-Town. Born in 1936 in New York, he studied at the University of Washington. He specialized in finding tax shelters for real estate investors. He is also the owner of the Chicago White Sox baseball franchise, which he acquired in 1981 for $19 million. In 1985 he bought the Bulls from Arthur Wirtz for $16 million and is still the principal owner today. It was under his reign that the Bulls became a successful franchise, both in sports and in profit. The number of seats sold per game increased threefold. In 2004 the Bulls were the most profitable franchise in the NBA with a result of $ 49 million for an estimated value of $ 356 million. He also organized the move of the Bulls and Blackhawks to their new arena, the United Center. Very involved in the community, he regularly participates in charity events. Of course, these few lines are only a small summary of Mr. Reinsdorf's career